The mid-mountain chapel in Sun Peaks

The charming mid-mountain chapel was built in 1999 by the owner of Sun Peaks Resort’s first hotel. The Sun Peaks Lodge, which opened in 1996, was owned and operated by Peter Stumböck, also the owner of the Stumböck Club, a well-known German tour operator.

Peter believed strongly that Sun Peaks should have a chapel on the mountain. He pursued the idea, and in 1999 a Swiss contractor was hired to construct it. During the building phase, a dear friend of Peter’s, Franz Brandstetter, died in a tragic hiking accident in Germany. To honour his friend, Peter dedicated the chapel to him and named it Franziskus Chapel. Also commonly referred to as the Sun Peaks Chapel or the Mid-Mountain Chapel, it remains an enduring landmark.

Franziskus, a monk, was regarded in Germany as the patron saint of animals, which is why the chapel’s paintings depict Canadian wildlife, with Franziskus shown as their protector.

The bell atop the chapel was brought from Bavaria. Staying true to the cultural influences, the many paintings were created by Rudi Schmid, also of Bavarian descent.

Peter Stumböck passed away in 2000 after an illness. Since 2004, the Sun Peaks Lodge and the chapel have been operated by Mario and Silvia Erler.

Today, the chapel is used during the ski season for Sunday, Christmas and Easter mass. Year-round, it is available for weddings, with bookings managed through the Sun Peaks Lodge.