Where It's Located
The Victoria British Columbia Temple is being built at 1151 Mantle Heights Road in Langford, British Columbia, on the southern portion of Vancouver Island.
Langford is part of the Capital Regional District west of Victoria. The temple's location places it within the Greater Victoria area while providing access to members throughout Vancouver Island.
The temple property covers approximately 4.7 acres, or 1.9 hectares.
The Second Temple in British Columbia
The Victoria British Columbia Temple will be the second temple in the province of British Columbia.
The first was the Vancouver British Columbia Temple, which was dedicated in Langley in 2010. Before the Victoria temple was announced, members on Vancouver Island had to travel to the Lower Mainland and the Vancouver temple for temple worship.
The new temple will eventually provide a temple much closer to the members living on Vancouver Island.
The Temple Announcement
The Victoria British Columbia Temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson on April 7, 2024, during the 194th Annual General Conference.
At the time of the announcement, Canada had more than 200,000 Latter-day Saints meeting in nearly 500 congregations. The Victoria temple was one of 15 new temple locations announced during that conference.
The announcement marked an important development for Latter-day Saints living on Vancouver Island, where the distance to the existing Vancouver British Columbia Temple had made temple attendance more difficult.
Finding the Temple Site
For more than two years after the announcement, details about the temple's specific location remained unknown.
That changed on June 22, 2026, when the Church announced that the temple would be constructed on a 4.7-acre property along Mantle Heights Road in Langford.
At the same time, the Church released the temple's official exterior rendering and announced that construction would begin later that summer.
Temple Site and Building Plans
Plans call for a single-story temple measuring approximately 11,400 square feet.
The property will also include an accompanying patron waiting area.
The relatively compact size of the temple reflects the Church's modern approach of constructing smaller temples in areas where a full-sized temple can serve a regional membership without requiring a large building or property.
The site sits at an elevation of approximately 338 feet, or 103 meters, above sea level.
Architecture and Design
The Victoria British Columbia Temple will feature a single attached central spire, one of its defining architectural elements.
The official exterior rendering was released publicly on June 22, 2026. The rendering provides the first detailed look at the temple's exterior and shows a relatively compact, single-story design intended for its Vancouver Island setting.
The temple will contain approximately 11,400 square feet of floor space, or 1,059 square meters.
Temple Ordinance Rooms
The Victoria British Columbia Temple is planned to contain:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
The single instruction room and single sealing room reflect the temple's relatively small scale.
Even though the building will be compact, it will contain the principal facilities needed for Latter-day Saint temple worship.
A Temple Designed for Vancouver Island
The temple will be built in a region known for its forests, gardens, mountains, and mild coastal climate.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Elder M. Shayne Olsen of the Seventy spoke about the beauty of Vancouver Island and described the future temple grounds as becoming a beautiful garden.
The landscaping will eventually become an important part of the temple property and will help connect the building with the natural character of Vancouver Island.
The Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking and site dedication took place on August 22, 2026, in Langford.
Elder James E. Evanson, a General Authority Seventy and member of the Canada Area Presidency, presided over the ceremony.
The groundbreaking officially marked the beginning of construction after more than two years of planning since the temple's 2024 announcement.
The ceremony brought together Latter-day Saints and invited guests from the surrounding community as construction on Vancouver Island's second temple officially began.
A Meaningful Day for Vancouver Island Members
The groundbreaking was particularly meaningful for members who have long traveled away from Vancouver Island to attend the temple.
Vienna Wigg of the Victoria British Columbia Stake spoke during the ceremony about the peace she had experienced in the house of the Lord and the significance of eventually having a temple on the island.
Marilyn Hall Terry of the Nanaimo British Columbia Stake also spoke about the future temple's potential impact on families and the surrounding community.
The Church in British Columbia
The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in British Columbia stretches back many decades.
Missionary work in Canada began in the early 1830s, not long after the Church was organized in New York and near the Canadian border.
Over time, congregations developed throughout British Columbia, eventually leading to the organization of stakes and the construction of the Vancouver British Columbia Temple.
The Victoria temple represents another stage in that development, bringing a second temple to the province.
From Vancouver to Victoria
For many years, the Vancouver British Columbia Temple was the only temple serving members throughout the province.
That temple is located in Langley on the mainland, meaning members on Vancouver Island have had to travel by ferry or air to reach it.
The Victoria temple will change that by bringing temple worship to Vancouver Island itself.
The two temples will eventually serve different portions of British Columbia, making temple access more convenient for members across the province.
Victoria and Vancouver Island
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and is located at the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island.
The city and surrounding region are known for their coastal setting, mild climate, gardens, forests, and historic character.
Langford, where the temple is being built, is located west of Victoria and has grown into one of the region's major communities.
The temple will therefore be situated within the larger Greater Victoria metropolitan area while remaining close to the natural landscape of Vancouver Island.
Visiting Victoria
Victoria is one of Canada's best-known destinations and is particularly associated with its waterfront, gardens, historic architecture, and mild coastal environment.
Visitors traveling to the area can explore downtown Victoria, the Inner Harbour, nearby parks, and the communities surrounding the southern end of Vancouver Island.
The future temple will add another significant landmark to the region, although the temple itself will be reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Vancouver Island's Natural Setting
One of the most distinctive features of the Victoria temple will be its setting.
Vancouver Island combines dense evergreen forests, coastal landscapes, mountains, and developed communities. The southern portion of the island around Victoria has a particularly strong reputation for gardens and landscaping.
The temple's relatively small site will allow the building and its future gardens to fit naturally into this environment.
The Temple Rendering
The official rendering of the Victoria British Columbia Temple was released on June 22, 2026.
The release was an important milestone because it gave Church members and the public their first official visual representation of the future temple.
The rendering accompanied the announcement of the temple's site and construction schedule, making June 2026 the point when many of the project's previously unknown details became public.
Construction Status
As of September 2026, the Victoria British Columbia Temple is under construction.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 22, 2026, officially beginning construction.
An open house and dedication date have not yet been announced.
The next major milestones will be the construction of the building, installation of the central spire, completion of the interior, and eventually the announcement of the public open house and dedication dates.
A Temple for Island Members
The temple will have an important practical purpose for Latter-day Saints living throughout Vancouver Island.
Before its completion, members on the island have needed to travel to the Vancouver British Columbia Temple in Langley. Depending on where they live, reaching that temple can require significant travel and a ferry or flight.
A temple in Langford will make temple worship substantially more accessible to members living in Victoria, Nanaimo, and communities throughout Vancouver Island.
A Small Temple With Regional Importance
At approximately 11,400 square feet, the Victoria British Columbia Temple will be relatively small.
But its size should not be confused with its importance.
A temple does not need to be enormous to have a significant impact on the people it serves. By placing a temple directly on Vancouver Island, the Church is creating a local temple option for members who previously had to leave the island to attend one.
Canada's Growing Temple Network
The Victoria temple is part of a larger expansion of temples throughout Canada.
Canada has operating temples in Calgary, Cardston, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. The Lethbridge Alberta Temple is also under construction.
The Victoria temple adds another project to this growing network and will eventually become the second operating temple in British Columbia.
What Happens Next?
With construction now underway, the project will move through the normal stages of temple construction.
The building will be constructed according to the plans represented by the official rendering, followed by completion of the interior, landscaping, and temple facilities.
Eventually, the Church will announce a public open house, followed by the temple's dedication.
Those dates have not yet been released.
Why the Victoria Temple Matters
The Victoria British Columbia Temple represents an important change for Latter-day Saints on Vancouver Island.
For years, the Vancouver British Columbia Temple served members throughout the province. The new temple will bring a house of the Lord directly to the island, reducing the distance and travel required for temple worship.
Its location in Langford also places it within the growing Greater Victoria area, making it accessible to members throughout southern Vancouver Island.
A Future Landmark for Langford
The temple is still in the early stages of construction, but it is already becoming a significant project for Langford.
The 4.7-acre property will eventually include the temple, landscaped grounds, and patron waiting area.
With its central spire and carefully designed landscaping, the completed building is expected to become a recognizable part of the local community.
From Announcement to Groundbreaking
The timeline of the Victoria British Columbia Temple has moved relatively quickly:
April 7, 2024: Temple announced.
June 22, 2026: Temple site and official exterior rendering announced.
August 22, 2026: Groundbreaking and site dedication held.
2026: Construction underway.
Future: Public open house and dedication dates to be announced.
Final Thoughts
The Victoria British Columbia Temple is an important new chapter in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Vancouver Island.
Announced in April 2024, the temple reached a major milestone in June 2026 when its Langford site and official exterior rendering were released. Construction then officially began on August 22, 2026, under the direction of Elder James E. Evanson of the Canada Area Presidency.
The completed temple will be a relatively small building of approximately 11,400 square feet on a 4.7-acre property. It will feature a single attached central spire and will include one instruction room, one sealing room, and one baptistry.
More importantly, the temple will bring temple worship much closer to the Latter-day Saints of Vancouver Island. Instead of traveling to the Vancouver British Columbia Temple on the mainland, members will eventually have a temple in Langford, within the Greater Victoria area.
For now, construction is just beginning. But the Victoria British Columbia Temple is already an important part of the future of the Church on Vancouver Island.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
0 comments