About Us Upcoming Events Photo Gallery First Nations Aboriginal Bursary Computer Fund Contact Us

Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary evening in support of Aboriginal Students in the Diocese of British Columbia:

Artist News...

We are very excited to announce that internationally renowned Northwest Coast artists Chief Tony Hunt, O.B.C., and Douglas LaFortune are generously contributing to our Fine Art Auction.
Coast Salish artist Douglas LaFortune is creating an original painting for our event. For a stunning visual of this artist’s work, you can visit First Peoples House on the University of Victoria campus.  The two Welcome Posts on either side of the front doors are a breathtaking example of Douglas LaFortune’s artistic carving.
Chief Tony Hunt, hereditary chief of the KwaGulth people of Fort Rupert and Kingcome Inlet, has donated the print “Raven & Sisiutl”. Chief Hunt, with his father, Chief Henry Hunt, and his grandfather, Chief Mungo Martin were the creators of Victoria’s treasured Thunderbird Park beside the Royal British Columbia  Museum. Chief Hunt has been selected to receive the 2010 Order of British Columbia - a fitting award for a lifetime of extraordinary achievement.

For tickets or for more information, please contact:
Mary Rogers
250-472-6671
Email maryrogers@bishopsgospelchoir.ca

The Bishop’s Gospel Choir of British Columbia is an innovative and exciting Anglican diocesan outreach under the direction of Mary Rogers. We are a 40 member, mixed voice choir drawn from Anglican congregations across the Greater Victoria area and serve where needed throughout the Diocese of British Columbia. We enjoy performing sacred choral music in a variety of styles and languages that celebrate international influences while reflecting our Anglican way of worship. We especially take great delight in presenting Canadian compositions.

Through music, the Bishop’s Gospel Choir brings the light of the Gospel to care facilities, hospitals, and to those in need...wherever they may be. The choir is also actively involved in the worship life of the parishes in our diocese. We especially enjoy bringing the Holden Setting of Evening Prayer, by Marty Haugen, to parishes upon request. Music booklets, cantors, and instrumentalists are provided by our ensemble, while members of the Bishop’s Gospel Choir sit amongst the congregation, to provide singing support throughout the service.

The Bishop’s Gospel Choir will, from time to time, take on special projects. Most recently, the choir organized and performed a benefit concert with silent auction for a Chemainus First Nation family. Their family home was tragically destroyed by a devastating fire in January, 2009. The concert was held just a few months later in June, at the Church of the Advent in Colwood, BC. As well as being a financial success, this event succeeded in bringing Vancouver Island communities together to help a family in need. 

Two very important projects of the Bishop’s Gospel Choir are the Bishop’s Gospel Choir’s First Nations Youth Bursary and the First Nations Computer Technology Fund. These are applicable throughout the Diocese of British Columbia (which includes Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands). For further information please click on the links above.

The Bishop’s Gospel Choir of British Columbia wishes to gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Anglican Foundation of Canada. The foundation generously provided a grant from the A.E.J. Fulford Trust. Our exquisite choral music library was completed with this special award.

For information about booking, joining, or supporting the Bishop’s Gospel Choir, please visit our Contact Us page!

Mary Mellesmoen Rogers began her music ministry in Northern Ontario, where she resided in Dryden and served as the organist for St. Mark Lutheran Church in Vermilion Bay. Mary would often travel to the isolated communities of Red Lake, Dinorwic, and Sioux Lookout to play for Christmas pageants and services at the Lutheran mission parishes. These years are filled with memories of picturesque drives through snow– journeys that would momentarily be interrupted to take in the brilliant northern lights on clear evenings.

Upon moving to British Columbia, Mary served as Director of Music for numerous parishes in Vancouver and Victoria. She especially enjoyed the position of Assistant Organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria. Of her many years at the Cathedral, one of her most memorable moments was on Sunday, October 6, 2002, when she played the recessional hymn for the Morning Prayer service with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, in attendance. 

Mary feels truly blessed to be the Director of The Bishop’s Gospel Choir, formed in 2007, and is honoured to work with its many gifted musicians. The Choir’s mission of giving back to the community, and spreading the light and hope of the Gospel throughout it, has proved to be a deeply fulfilling endeavour.