True and Fascinating Canadian History
Veterans of the Month: January, 2026
Liturgical Vessels in the RCMP Chapel
and J. J. (Joe) Healy,
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
In the hushed sanctuary of the RCMP Chapel at "Depot" Division, sunlight filters through memorable stained glass windows, casting colored shadows across the altar. Here, among the polished wood and quiet devotion, rest vessels that have witnessed more Canadian history than most members who pass through Regina will ever know.
These are not merely ceremonial objects of silver and brass, but silent witnesses to a legacy—chalices that held wine during the earliest days of the Force, patens that served communion to members of the RCMP before they were posted to all parts of Canada, and vessels that have endured through world wars, the evolution of a nation, and the transformation of the North West Mounted Police to the Royal North West Mounted Police and to the present day RCMP -- a national symbol known around the world.
These same vessels continue their sacred duty today, used in communion services to commemorate deceased members of the Force many of whom died on duty — a solemn ritual that connects past sacrifice to present remembrance, binding generations of RCMP in shared grief and honor.
Yet for most of the Canadian men and women who graduate from "Depot" and march in formation past the Chapel, or pause briefly within its walls, these sacred objects remain exactly that: objects. Their stories — of who donated them, why they matter, and what moments of triumph and tragedy they have marked — fade a little more with each passing year.
Thanks to the dedication of 'F' Division Chaplain Les Kingdon, who meticulously photographed each vessel and documented their histories, these stories can now be preserved and shared. What follows is a tribute to both the sacred objects themselves and to those who have ensured their legacy endures.
The baptismal font in the Chapel was donated in honour of Reg.#907, Cst. William Talbot Lowry. Lowry Place at "Depot" is also named in his honour.
(Left side)
To the Glory of God and
In loving memory of
(Centre)
Talbot Lowry Corp. NWMP
Died May 2. 1885. From wounds
Received in battle at Cut Knife Hill
May 1. 1885. AE . 28 yrs. & 5 Mos.
(Right Side)
“Thy will be done.”
Around the top of the font it reads:
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Inspector J. E. Littlehales and his wife in honour of
his mother, Mary Jane Littlehales.
One is inscribed “In Memoriam”
The other “M.J. Littlehales”
Donated by Inspector (4339/O.216 )(1877-1965) and Mrs. John Eldred Littlehales). His mother was Mary Jane Littlehales (nee Robinson)
Presented to the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chapel,
Regina, Saskatchewan
On top arm: He Is Risen
On the right arm:
By
Superintendent H.C. Forbes, MBE
And Mrs.Forbes
October 7th, 1962
On the left arm:
May this ancient and revered shrine of the Force
increasingly inspire the men of the Mounted and their wives
to perpetuate our lustrous and cherished traditions
of sacrificial courage, loyalty and humble service to God,
Canadians and Canada.
Reg.#29389, Cst. Jim Mizibrocky.
In Memory of
Cpl. Jim P. Mizibrocky
Troop 18 1971-1972
and Red Deer Sub/Division
Reg.#11747, S/M Charles F. Wilson
Inscribed: To the Glory of God
In Proud Memory
Sgt./Major Charles F. Wilson. 1909-1972
Presented by his Wife and Daughter Chalice Inscribed inside its base
Sgt/Maj Charles F Wilson
was donated to the Chapel by:
Reg.#10626, Sergeant Andrew 'Al' Lawrence and Olga Betty Seaman
In Memory of S/Sgt. David Keith
In Loving Memory of
Reg.#21018, S/Sgt David C. Keith
Presented by wife Pearl. 1982
In Memory of Reg.#30749, Cst. Gordon Alfred Brooks
August 27, 1953 – November 11, 1979
Donated by Mom and Dad
Diane, Linda and David
was donated:
To the glory of God and
In loving memory of:
O.401, Inspector Lewis Arthur Denton
Donated by his wife and family
Liturgical Vessels in the RCMP Chapel
As one witnesses through these images, each vessel carries within its form not just precious metal, but precious memory—the fingerprints of chaplains long gone, the prayers whispered over fallen friends, and the silent strength required of those who serve in their capacity as a police officer. The liturgical vessels stand today as they have for more than a century: not in a museum, preserved behind glass and divorced from purpose, but alive in their sacred function, still blessing bread and wine, still connecting the living to the departed. In knowing their stories now, perhaps these vessels will no longer be mere objects to those who pass through "Depot's" Drill Hall, but recognized companions on a journey that began before any current RCMP member was born and will continue long after.
May these vessels endure, may their stories be told, and may they remind each generation that to wear the uniform is to become part of something far greater than oneself — a companionship that transcends time, bound by service, sacrifice, and the solemn beauty of remembrance.
The end.
(L) to (R): Chaplain Tom McCullough, J. J. (Joe) Healy & Chaplain Les Kingdon
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
December 8th, 2025
