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Letter: Historic Port Coquitlam bell gets new home on the 'front line'

Now it's found a new home.

The Editor:  

The former CPR train engine bell that rang in the tower of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Port Coquitlam for almost 36 years has found new life during its current residence at the home of St. Catherine’s parishioner, Bernie Poitras.  

Forged in 1937, the bell called the faithful to weekly worship, baptisms, weddings, funerals and celebrations like the arrival of a New Year. It is now being joyfully rung once more, by Bernie, each evening at 7 p.m., in concert with the banging of pots and pans in his neighbourhood to show appreciation for front line health care workers, first responders and essential service personnel.

Sometime around 1960, St. Catherine’s acquired the bell through the efforts of then-parish secretary Doug Wright. Mr. Wright noticed a news item reporting that the Canadian Pacific Railroad had decided to dismantle the 2200 class locomotives. A locomotive of this class had hauled the Royal Train that carried King George VI and Queen Elizabeth across Canada during their Royal Visit. 

The news item gave Mr. Wright an idea. He wrote a letter on church stationery addressed to the CPR’s Superintendent of the Western Area. In the letter, he pointed out that Port Coquitlam, along with Port Moody, was the CPR’s western terminus, and that St. Catherine’s was the first church built in Port Coquitlam. “Therefore, Sir, I asked, would it be possible to acquire a bell from the Royal Locomotive to be used in our church’s belfry?” he wrote. 

Several weeks passed with no reply. Mr. Wright assumed that his request had been denied. But then, one day, St. Catherine's rector, Rev. Bert Harris, received notice that something had arrived at the CPR station. It was very large crate that contained a beautifully polished bell inscribed, "Presented to St. Catherine’s Anglican Church, Port Coquitlam." A work party got busy and hauled the bell to the old church belfry, where it remained until it was transferred to the new building that was dedicated in October 1963.

The bell was taken down in September 1999, just before the demolition of the church building in October. Since then, the bell has resided at the Poitras home, and the parish has worshipped in a shared space graciously offered by the congregation of Trinity United Church.

Annette Smith, Port Coquitlam