A new neighbourhood church could be coming to the Cove soon. Craig Thiessen, pastor of The Bridge Church, talked with Spiritually Speaking columnist Ed Hird about plans to move his congregation from Capilano University to 1384 Deep Cove Rd. The small blue church currently occupying the site was home from 1949 to 2005 to St. Simon’s Church, which Hird has been the rector of since 1987.
Ed Hird: Welcome to Deep Cove, Craig. What’s the story behind The Bridge Church?
Craig Thiessen: The Bridge Church had its genesis back in the 1950s when it was known as Delbrook Baptist Church. Over the decades, many families in the church moved into the Deep Cove-Seymour area, which helped spark a number of significant changes about 15 years ago. At that time, the church changed its name, its “style” of worship to a very contemporary/modern approach, and its meeting place - a clear commitment to reaching a new generation! Since then, The Bridge has rented space at the BlueShore Centre at CapU on Sunday mornings, while continually seeking a more permanent home east of Lynn Creek. A few years ago, that long-held dream found initial fulfillment in the purchase of property at 1384 Deep Cove Rd.
Ed Hird: What can you tell us about the plans for that property?
Craig Thiessen: Our hope is to build a new facility there in the near future. The design aims to make the most of the existing natural features, and while it calls for three floors, only the top floor will be visible from Deep Cove Road (the bottom two being built into the hillside). One of the things I’ve loved about this project from the start is our leaders’ desire to make this building a kind of community centre, running programs that will connect with our neighbours.
Ed Hird: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to pastor this church?
Craig Thiessen: I began as the lead pastor of The Bridge in April of 2017, previously serving churches in Vancouver and Richmond. I actually grew up on the Canadian Prairies, but happily relocated to the Lower Mainland 10 years ago when I was hired by the church in Richmond. In addition to a real sense of God’s calling, I found out that snow was a relative rarity here and I knew instantly this is where I had to be! I’m married with two kids (ages four and one). I love sports (especially basketball), and someday I plan to take up paddle boarding (apparently when kids grow up, you get free time again?). My wife and I are very grateful to now call North Van home, having moved into a townhome by CapU this past fall.
Ed Hird: Any final words about The Bridge Church?
Craig Thiessen: Our website (bridgenorthvan.ca) has more info, but the short story is that I love our church! We’re multi-generational, but tend towards youth. We have lots of young families with kids and a growing group of teens and college students. We’d love to have you visit sometime, whether at CapU on Sundays at 10 a.m. or hopefully, in the future, right here on Deep Cove Road!
Note from the project’s architect, Helen Pang:
The proposed design for the new Bridge Church is a clean and contemporary esthetic, achieved with glass and metal panelling to complement the natural surroundings. The main floor will house classrooms, a multipurpose room and administration offices. Natural light will stream in the auditorium hall, which will feature a generous performance stage and flexibility to be used as a community space.
District of North Vancouver spokeswoman Mairi Welman confirms they have received from the developer of Bridge Church an environmental development permit application, which precedes a building permit.
