Within Vancouver there is a general recognition that our church is a magnificent place to worship. We have hosted shared services for the Westside Anglican Deanery and large Diocesan liturgies.
The large main chancel area has seen a wide variety of music and artistic events including choirs, chamber groups, symphony orchestras, piano recitals, dramatic readings/plays, seminars and early music ensembles.
Originally the church had two side chapels. The Lady Chapel on the south side of the nave is used for our early Sunday Eucharist and quiet prayer, while the north chapel has been converted into a flexible space for families with children during the main Sunday Eucharist. This space is also used as a small reception area following Choral Evensong services or special concerts.
The Sacristy and offices for the rector and parish administrator are located within the church on the main level.
St John’s Shaughnessy has a large Annex building that is connected to the main church by a covered walkway. In 2014, the Diocese of New Westminster entered into a long-term lease with St. John’s to occupy the entire Annex building, located at the east side of the property. After extensive renovations, the Diocese moved the Synod offices into this space in the summer of 2015. The conversion of the building also included relocating the Diocesan Archives and the Archives of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and the Yukon into a state-of-the-art climate-controlled space on the lower level.
The refurbished Trendell Lounge, located in the church Annex, is a bright room with large windows overlooking the church lawn and the de Pencier Garden. This flexible space has a capacity of 80 – 100 people, depending on the nature of the reception, and is used by the parish for Sunday hospitality, receptions, and meetings. There is a large commercial kitchen attached to the lounge that is used jointly by the parish and the Synod office. The parish also maintains a one bed- room apartment with a roof deck over the Annex, which is used by our Verger.
We have a large Garden of Remembrance on the south side of the property. The garden has recently been redesigned and we have created an annual Garden of Remembrance Service.
The de Pencier Garden, between the church and the Annex, is bordered by beds of roses, irises, hydrangeas and other perennials and trees that form a cloister when in bloom.
We have a dedicated team of volunteer gardeners who refurbish and maintain our lovely gardens.
Our church has proven to be an ideal venue for a wide variety of music and artistic events including choirs, chamber groups, symphony orchestras, piano recitals, dramatic readings/plays, seminars, and early music ensembles. In early 2016 we were pleased to welcome Meghan Patrick and the Washboard Union for the filming of their music video here at St John’s (see below). The video was produced by Brass Tacks Films. Our grand piano is well cared for, the acoustics in the church are superb, and free parking is always plentiful in Shaughnessy.
A few years ago we started welcoming film companies, and are excited to support the booming film industry here in Vancouver. Proof, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (season 2 finale), and Imposters (season 1 finale) have all filmed here with great success. The Diocese of New Westminster (next door) have partnered with us to be able to offer the Trendell Lounge as a wedding reception room, as well as the huge conference room for storage and extras. Our parking lot holds 30 cars, which is perfect for large trucks and tents, plus the manicured garden areas (more than half a city block) with mature trees and shrubs are exceptional for filming. Please contact the office for more information.