St. Mary's - An Island Spirit Legacy Traditional Geocache

All the Island Spirit Legacy Caches are within a 2 steps of the trail, unless otherwise noted. There is no need to bushwack or trample the vegetation.

St. Mary's Cemetery

St. Mary's Anglican Church was built in 1874 on land Joseph Drinkwater had given to the church. It was torn down in 1909 and rebuilt, but it's not here anymore. Taking a scenic drive out to Port Renfrew you will be able to view the restored church. In 1970 it was decided to give Port Renfrew the Church as a gift. First, the roof was lifted off, then the Church was dismantled into sections and moved by truck from Duncan along the logging roads to Port Renfrew. A barge carried the truck and church roughly 400m to beach camp in lower Port Renfrew. It was then re-assembled, right down to the interior and organ. Unfortunately somehow the bell went missing during the drive, although later the bell from the HMCS Swansea was installed in the Church as the new bell until the original bell turned up. Interestingly, the move started on a Tuesday and with the community pitching in, it was reassembled and Church service and a wedding were able to be performed on the Sunday. You can see the cairn where the Church originally stood in the cemetary here as well as the grave of Joseph Drinkwater.