Holy Trinity - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

The community of Yellowknife grew up originally on Latham Island and the nearby point of land jutting out into Yellowknife Bay, and it was here that the first church was built. After the Second World War the city expanded onto the higher ground above the lake and the present church was consecrated in 1950. After an extensive expansion and renovation the present church seats about 150 people comfortably, has an office for the rector, a nursery and choir room, as well as a large entranceway and cloakroom facilities on the upper level. The basement includes a hall, stage area, kitchen and washrooms, as well as a number of storage rooms. It was here that the SideDoor began its operation in 1996. The SideDoor moved to its new building in April 2002.

In 1996 the Diocese of The Arctic synod office moved north for the first time. The synod office is now located across the alley from Holy Trinity church.

Since 1967 Yellowknife has been the capital of the Northwest Territories and government personnel, both federal and territorial, accounts for a third of the population. The mining industry, gold and diamonds account for another third of the population and the remaining third are from the support section, tradespeople, tourism, education, health, etc. Although the surrounding area of the southern Mackenzie is the homeland of the Dene people and both they and a number of Inuit make their homes in Yellowknife, the majority of the community is of non-native origin. One section of the city, on the tip of Latham Island (N'dilo), and the nearby community of Detah, however, is almost exclusively Dene. The Anglican Church has been in the Mackenzie area for well over a century, but the pioneer work of the early years was never followed through and now most of the Dene people in the southern part of the region are members of the Roman Catholic Church. The congregation of Holy Trinity, then, consists mainly of people from southern Canada, and indeed around the world, numbering about 150 families.

Worship centres around the 10 o'clock service on Sunday: Morning Prayer on the first Sunday, Holy Communion on the other Sundays, and in months with five Sundays, a Healing Service on the fifth Sunday. Sunday school is held during this service. There is an early celebration of Holy Communion at 8:30 each Sunday. These services alternate between the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Alternative Services. A Prayer and Praise service is offered each Sunday at 7pm. There are also the occasional Inuktitut services to meet the needs of the Inuit living in the city or visiting for holidays, meetings or hospital appointments. A further service is held in the Yellowknife Correctional Centre each week. The ACW meets monthly and the 3 Bible study groups weekly. There are thirteen other Christian denominations in the city. The Ministerial Association meets monthly and members of the various congregations have fellowship together in a number of joint services and Bible studies throughout the year.

Aside from the normal parish activities, the priest and congregation have various other areas of ministry. The hospital is visited on a regular basis and contacts made there, not only with "Anglicans" not presently members of the congregation, but also with patients hospitalized there from all over the southern Mackenzie area and the Central Arctic. Many of the latter are Inuit members of the predominantly Anglican parishes along the Arctic Coast.

A part-time chaplain, Rev. Jim Lynn, was appointed for the Yellowknife Correctional Centre (approximately 100 inmates) and North Slave Youth Offenders Centre (approximately 25 offenders). These inmates are from all over the NWT and are serving sentences up to two years in length, approximately 1/3 each, Dene, Inuit and non-native. Of these, about 90% are serving time as a result of liquor related offences. This is a vital work and God has blessed the contacts made with the men at a crisis time in their lives. The rector joins with other churches in the ministerial to supply services.

As more and more development takes place in the Western Arctic, Yellowknife will continue to grow from its present population of approximately 18,000, and Holy Trinity will be in the midst of all the activity endeavouring to carry out its ministry of love in the name of Jesus our Lord.


On March 5, 2006, Bishop Andrew ordained Rev. Capt. Ron McLean to the priesthood. Ron is joined in this photo by his wife Carol, sons Curtis & Scott and daughter Kim.

The Anglican Clergy of Yellowknife

Rev. Cecil Randall                      -       1939 - 1944
Rev. J. Batten                  -       1945 - 1947
Deaconess Elsie Sutherland      -       1946 - 1949
*Rev. Tom Greenwood             -       1949 - 1952 (became Bishop of the Yukon 1952)
Rev. Robert Douglas             -       1952 - 1962
*Rev. Kenneth Genge             -       1962 - 1968
Rev. Russ Ferrie                        -       1969 - 1972
*Rev. John Sperry                       -       1974
Rev. Roger Briggs                       -       1974 - 1978
*Rev. Chris Williams            -       1978 - 1987
*Rev. Terry Buckle                      -       1987 - 1993
Rev. David Butterworth          -       1993 - 1998
Rev. Don Flumerfelt                     -       1999 – 2004
Rev. Capt. Ron McLean           -       2006 – present

*These rectors have become bishops

 Services
 Sunday
8:30 am Holy Communion alternates between BCP & BAS
10:30am         Alternates between Morning Prayer & Holy Communion (BCP or BAS)

 with Sunday School

                5th Sunday is Healing Service (Order of St. Luke)
7:00pm  Prayer & Praise Service

Wednesday
7:00pm  Bible Study - Home Fellowships
Thursday
7:00am          Bible Study – Home Fellowship

Scenes of Yellowknife