St. Barnabas' Parish, New Westminster was established in 1891, originally as the West End Mission Church of Holy Trinity Parish. From its inception St. Barnabas served the western part of the city. In 1892, the Reverend H.H. Gowen came to work conjointly with the parish of Trenant (Ladner). He surrendered Trenant six months later in order to devote himself to the development of West End Mission. The church was built in three sections: the first in 1891, the second in 1892, and the third, including the sanctuary and the end of the choir, in 1900. The parish was separated by act of the Diocesan Executive from Holy Trinity Parish in 1894. During the first years of the twentieth century the parish had a Men's Club, a night school for upgrading education, a Pansy society for young girls, the Boy's Brigade, which itself provided for the proper training of young men, ages 10 to 17. For some time the Sons of England Lodge met in the Parish Room. During the years of World War I there was a certain stability of parishioners attending church, but the parish was constantly fighting a running deficit. In 1911 the parish debt was paid off by an anonymous donor. A plan to improve parish finances was discussed the same year, but it did not seem to work. Despite this, the mortgage of the rectory was paid off in 1914. In October and November 1918, the church was closed by Order of Civil Authorities due to the influenza epidemic. A new and larger Parish Hall was built during the summer of 1925, and formally opened in September of that year. During the years of Depression and World War II, the parish went again through difficult times. For a while the parish was served by students, but in 1943 a Curate-in Charge was appointed by the Bishop. After the end of World War II, the parish finances improved to the point where the parish could again afford a full-time Rector. A Restoration Fund was set up and repairs and restorations were made in the early 1950's. A Junior Choir was formed, a Parish Mission was held in 1957, a new rectory was built and paid for in 1958. In 1960, the Parish Hall was partially destroyed by fire, but it was restored and widened immediately. Extra facilities were built to include Sunday School classes and meeting rooms. From 1969 to 1975, the parish improved its financial income; annual festivals were organized, additional hours for Eucharists were introduced, the church was left unlocked at all times to encourage its continued use for prayer. The Parish Hall was redecorated in 1977, the church was renovated in 1978. The parish continues to work towards caring for its parishioners and the surroundings community.