Vancouver, BC – Last Saturday, September 13, 2025, the congregation of St. Markus Church in Vancouver opens its doors to the community for a very special occasion: the 100-year anniversary of its church building. Under a bright and sunny sky, members, neighbours, and friends gather to honour a century of faith, history, and community in the Cedar Cottage neighbourhood.
Westcoast German News attends the celebration and captures photos to preserve these cherished memories. The festivities begin at noon and quickly fill the churchyard with laughter, music, and the irresistible scent of grilled food. At 12:30 pm, the Dorfmusik provides a lively soundtrack, while families enjoy a cake competition paired with coffee and children rush from one activity to another.
What makes this anniversary so significant is the history behind the building itself. St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is rooted in Cedar Cottage, a community that, by 1910, had grown into a lively village with shops, schools, and even its own brewery. The earliest seeds of the congregation were planted in 1902 by Reverend Ebenezer Robson, who began a Sunday School in the local schoolhouse. From there, the congregation grew, eventually worshipping in the Robson Memorial Methodist Church, designed by the renowned architect Thomas Hooper.
After a devastating fire in 1921 destroyed much of the original building, the community gathered their strength, worshipped temporarily in the Cedar Cottage Theatre, and by March 1922 returned to a reconstructed hall. Out of resilience and growth, the vision for a new church building took shape, and by 1925 the St. Mark’s building we see today was completed. For a century, it has stood at 1573 East 18th Avenue as both a spiritual home and a community gathering place.
Saturday’s summer festival embodies that same spirit. The “Spurensuche St. Markus” tour invites visitors to retrace the church’s history through displays, connecting the past with the present. Families, friends, and newcomers alike enjoy food, music, and fellowship in the sunshine.
Westcoast German News is honoured to witness and document this milestone. The celebration is more than a birthday—it is a reminder of the enduring faith, resilience, and sense of belonging that has shaped St. Markus for 100 years and continues to carry it forward into the future.
Quote from a player: “fun afternoon sitting-in with a German/Swiss Band for a German church’s 100-year anniversary and then glorifying God in the sanctuary with hymns and ending with improvised descant verse to expand range and articulation while keeping the lyrical phrasing
Psalms 96:1-3
(1) Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. (2) Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (3) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.”
About the Dorfmusik
The Vancouver Dorfmusik was founded in 1983 by 3 members of the Vancouver Swiss Community to perform Swiss and European style music similar to small village bands. An inspiration was the Seldwyler Dorfmusik in Zurich that was quite popular at the time.
The first annual concert was on March 1, 1986 in Vancouver and a concert followed every year afterwards. The 20th anniversary concert in 2005 was also the occasion to release our first CD.
The Vancouver Dorfmusik has performed locally and internationally on many occasions: Vancouver Folkfest, PNE parade, Edgemont Oktoberfest, Whistler Alpine Festival, Tacoma Schwingfest, Leavenworth Autumn Festival, Vernon Swiss Society Spring Concert, Ladner Bandfest and Annual Swiss National Day Celebrations.
In 1991, The Vancouver Dorfmusik visited Switzerland and participated in its 700 Anniversary celebration. A highlight was the Canada evening at the federal crossbow shooting festival in Dallenwil.
In 1995, the Dorfmusik became a member of the ‘Interessengemeinschaft Schweizer Blaskapellen’ and became eligible to compete at its festivals. In 1998, the Vancouver Dorfmusik travelled to Switzerland, France and Germany and received a ‘sehr gut’ at the Blaskapellentreffen in Niederbipp where about 70 Blaskapellen competed.
The term ‘Blaskapelle’ needs a bit of elaboration. In Europe most villages and cities have bands ranging from small groups, brass bands to large concert bands. The Blaskapelle is a separate group and usually has not more than about 20 players. Very often, these groups are formed by assembling the good players from several villages or cities. Today there is quite a ‘Blaskapellen’ movement through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic with several top Kapellen being in the Bohemian and Moravian region of the Czech Republic.
Presently, the Vancouver Dorfmusik has about 20 players and keeps close ties with the Swiss community. However, the Dorfmusik is becoming increasingly a group of accomplished Canadian players with a variety of ethnic backgrounds who enjoy the European style ‘Blaskapellen’ playing.
For more information about the band or upcoming events please send an email to:
Sent in by a member of the Dorfmusik
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