St. Paul’s Church was built in 1866 on the water’s edge at the foot of Signal Hill. Before that time, dating back to 1858, Anglican services were held in the little school building that once stood on that site. Also, previously, Anglican services were conducted by Royal Navy chaplains aboard their ships for naval personnel and the growing population around Victoria.
In 1904, the building was dismantled as required and relocated to its present site due to proposed firing of large caliber guns on Signal Hill combined with strong winter gales damaging the lead glassed windows, as well as the property was needed by the navy for expansion of its operations. In 1911, it was renamed St. Paul’s Naval and Garrison Church.
Colours were presented to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) on 14 April 1934, by the Earl of Bessborough, Governor-General of Canada, at a parade in the Minto Street Armouries, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Regimental Colour was emblazoned on it with ten Battle Honours awarded to the Regiment for its actions during the First World War and gazetted in 1919. On 15 Aug 1950, these Colours were designated the Colours of the First Battalion upon the formation of the Second Battalion for service in Korea.
The Colours were laid up on 25 Nov 1959 in St. Paul’s Naval and Garrison Church at the request of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J.C. Allan, DSO, MBE, CD. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is affiliated with the church, dating from 1920 when B Company was stationed at Work Point Barracks. The church has three plaques commemorating the service of Patricias who died while serving in Esquimalt. In army circles, the church is still known and fondly referred to as the "Garrison Church.”
When the Regiment was advised that the church was under threat of closure and possible demolition, resulting in the loss of access to the Colours, the Regiment reclaimed them in 1991 and placed them in the Museums of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, where they reside today. The church closure and demolition never materialized and only a small portrayal of the Colours remained in the church. Eventually, on 6 May, 2017, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the church, the Victoria Branch of the PPCLI Association presented to St. Paul’s a framed replica and scroll dedicated to the original 1 PPCLI Colours, placed in 1959. The Colour Officer for the Regimental Colour when laid-up in 1959, Dick Macintosh, presented the plaque. Financial support for this event was provided by both the National PPCLI Association and Regimental Headquarters.
