1

The Reverend Berdina Ford Anglican Parish of Burin
10 September 2005
Burin, Newfoundland, Canada

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Hi, I'm Rev Berdina Ford, the Anglican Priest, here in the Parish of Burin, and St. Andrews Port au Bras is one of the three congregations in my parish.

I became very aware of the importance of the remembering the Tidal Wave disaster of 1929 in my visits to people in the community, in the congregation. The stories that they shared were very real. Some of these people of course now are in their eighties and they were children at the time, but they were very real for them and as they shared with me, I felt there needed to be a way that we remember this, an important circumstance within the church community.

3

The Litany Offers Strength
19 November 1929
Port au Bras, Dominion of Newfoundland

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Another story that was shared with me, that again I could really visualize, because being within the community, Port au Bras, where this actually happened and with the mountain being pointed out to me, what I mean by that is, this person who now in his eighties, shared that he, him, his mother and grandmother ran to the hills. Everybody did. To the highest point. They thought the world was coming to an end and what he remembers as a young child is his grandmother reading out loud the great Litany. Reading the Litany. Praying the Litany from the prayer book of the Church of England. They really...they really did think that the world was coming to an end. And there was such an awful loud roar.

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Rubber Boots
19 November 1929
Port au Bras, Dominion of Newfoundland

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And in running up to the highest point, one little boy thought, I'd better run back and get my boots. His rubber boots had been left in the porch in the house and he ran back to the house, down over the hill, into the porch to get his boots and the water was then just coming in and then left, grabbed his boots and then left and ran back up over the hill. An indication that of course, as a child, had no understanding of what was happening. And it was by God's grace that nothing happened to him and that he, of course was able to survive along with many others.

7

St. Andrew's Anglican Church
11 November 2005
Port au Bras, Newfoundland, Canada

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As the seventy- fifth anniversary of the Tidal Wave disaster was drawing near, I decided that I would like to have a time of remembrance, a special time to commemorate the anniversary, that the congregation of St. Andrew in Port au Bras would host that service. But an invitation would be sent to other Clergy, all denominations in the area, to Council and Government Members and to, a notice would be placed around to include and invite any persons who would like to attend. It would be an open service, a special time of remembrance.

9

Mrs. Margaret Saint
10 January 2005
Burin, Newfoundland, Canada

10

About one week prior to the service, I contacted Margaret Saint (picture) and asked if I could come and visit with her. Had a wonderful visit with her in Fox Cove. She shared her stories. I almost felt as if I was there. An unusual feeling, but for her it was almost as if she was that little child again. And she did share with me that ever since then, ever since that happened, she's afraid of the dark because you may have read or heard already that there was a light, a lamp lit, at the top of the stairway and all she remembers is that the light went out.

11

Commemoration Service St. Andrew's Anglican Church 'Do not be afraid' Mt 14:28
14 November 2004
Port au Bras: St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Newfoundland

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In developing the order of service for this time of remembrance I did some searching through my files and my liturgical forms and hymns and so on. And for the cover I was sure that I wanted to use the silhouette of the moon and the water and the land and the words, "Courage, it is I, do not be afraid". I am the resurrection and the life, I placed in there. I inserted that in there with the butterfly because as Christians, that's who we are and we believe that there is life after death and it continues. The Bible passages that I chose focused on the reality of chaos and destruction that does occur in the world. However, as Christians we believe and know that God is present at all times and that Jesus, the light of the world, is the light of the world. I used the visual of the resurrection and tied in candle lighting ceremony. The hymns were hymns of hope and acknowledgment of God's presence and God's grace.

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Angels of Courage and Grace, Hope and Faith, Love and Peace.
14 November 2004
Port au Bras, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Photo compliments of Southern Gazette

14

At the top of the Chancel steps we placed a table and three candles for a special candle lighting ceremony. We honored the victims, the survivors and those who helped with the relief following the tragedy. I had earlier invited Mrs. Margaret Saint, one of the survivors, to light the candle of courage and grace and that candle was to honor all those who survived that fateful day. The second candle, I invited the MHA to light the candle of hope and faith and that was in remembrance of those who had died, who did not survive. And then, Burin Mayor, Kevin Lundrigan lit the candle for love and peace, in thanksgiving for all those who helped in the relief effort.