The Lac Qui Parle Scandinavian Lutheran Congregation was established in 1905 and was named after Lac Qui Parle County in Minnesota, the former home of these mostly Norwegian immigrants.
"Lac Qui Parle" is a French translation of the native Dakota name meaning "lake which speaks." There were no French-speaking people involved with this settlement, neither is there a lake. I believe the chosen name had much to do with their homesickness for Minnesota.
The church remains active to this day, as does the cemetery where the first burial took place in 1906. The church building was completed in November 1915 and remains in fine condition; the interior being particularly well preserved. The severe lines and angles of the exterior are in sharp contrast to the rich yet soft indoor ambience. There's something about the combination of baby blue and white that is so comforting.
As is seen in the photographs, both the church and cemetery are meticulously kept. "Thank you" to those who care.
On a personal note... I grew up not far from Lac Qui Parle but the trip through the area was so much more than just a memory...it really was "all new" to me, and that was more than a welcome and pleasant surprise. I ended up driving around the countryside until well after dark, just taking in the ambience of the past presence.
Photographed near Torquay, Saskatchewan on October 17, 2017.
Love the story behind Lac Qui Parle's name. No lake. No French.
ReplyDeleteSort of like nostalgia, but different.
DeleteGood commentary..steps backwards in time..nostalgia
ReplyDeleteI especially admire interior shots..eg curved altar rail..fifficult to craft...oh for green grass of home
Thanks David. Lac Qui Parle is one of those special places...and I'm sure you know what I mean.
DeleteYou do the best church posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you BW. Your kind words are greatly appreciated.
DeleteBeautiful, both inside and out. The only thing that would make it better would be stained glass in the windows.
ReplyDeleteMany of the early Lutheran churches didn't have stained glass windows most likely due a matter of economics. The Lutherans tend to be frugal and spartan in the design of their churches, especially in the pioneer days, but...New Stockholm Lutheran Church in southern Saskatchewan has one of the most impressive array of stained glass windows I've seen on my travels...quite unusual to see in a Lutheran church but well appreciated to my eyes. The windows in the two transepts are over twenty feet tall. Cut and paste the following link to see it: https://michaeltruman.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-stockholm.html
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