Upon touring the town of Fernie one will find that each and every church of any age in the town was built between 1908 and 1910. This was not a coincidence. On August 1, 1908 Fernie suffered a
devastating fire which burned the entire town, save for the present town hall, the Western Canada Wholesale warehouse and the Catholic priest’s residence (all concrete structures which managed to withstand the blaze).
100 businesses, 700 residences and all the churches and public buildings burned to the ground. Beginning almost immediately the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Lutheran congregations began to rebuild. All their buildings were of brick and/or stone, at least in part because immediately following the fire the town passed an ordinance requiring all buildings in a ten block area to be built of fireproof material.
Thus we have the buff brick Christ Anglican Church resting on a tall concrete foundation. Several brick wall buttresses along the sanctuary indicate the church's age, as does the framing of the roof inside. Several wrought iron brackets are used to connect the members of the roof trusses, something not seen in many years.
While there are six Gothic Revival windows, with tracery, down each side of the sanctuary, only one is filled with stained glass. It is a beautiful large, triple window, dedicated to Edwy Kenny and Mary Nash Stewart. Depicted in the window are three different renditions of Christ.
Edwy and Mary, both originally from Aylmer, Quebec, were married in 1905, which was about the time that they moved west, landing in Fernie. Edway was very active in the community, becoming a business owner, past master of the Fernie Masons and past chancellor of the Fernie chapter of the Knights of Pythias. Unsuccessfully, he ran for the house of parliament in the last federal election before his death.
March 27, 1944
The Ottawa Journal | Page 13
Edwy K. Stewart Formerly of Ottawa Dies in Calgary
Word has been received of the death on Friday in Calgary of Edwy Kenny Stewart, of Fernie, B.C., and a former resident of Aylmer and Ottawa. Mr. Stewart, who was in his 64th year, was a son of the late David Stewart and Jane Kenny. He was born in Aylmer, Quebec, and received his education in that town and in Ottawa. Before going to Fernie about 40 years ago, he was connected with the firm of Bate and Company, of this city. In Fernie he was general manager of the Trites Wood Company, eventually becoming owner of the firm and its subsidiaries.
In 1905 he married Mary (Mayme) I. E. Nash, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick G. Nash, of Aylmer. Besides his wife he is survived by one son, Kenny N. Stewart, who as a mining engineer was recently employed in the Department of Mines and Resources, and is now at Fernie. In addition to his business interests, Mr. Stewart took a prominent part in civic activities in Fernie, and unsuccessfully contested the riding of East Kootenay for the Liberal party in the last Federal election. He was a past master of Elk River Lodge. A.F. and A.M., and also a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. In religion he was a member of the Church of England.
From The Ottawa Journal