Congregational Church and Cemetery

A favourite...

The Congregational Church and Cemetery at Gros Ventre-Tothill. 

And with that...it's time to take a break from blogging.  See you soon.

Photographed near Tothill, Alberta on May 30, 2023.

Saint Anthony's at Grosswerder

The kindness of strangers...

...I was taking some photos of Saint Anthony's Church when a couple in a pickup pulled over.  They were curious about who I was and what I was up to way out in the middle of nowhere (both of which are reasonable questions).  It didn't take long and we were chatting up a storm and having some laughs.  Deciding that I wasn't up to no good, they asked, "Would you like to see inside?"

Little seems to have changed inside the church in well over a century.  The addition of electricity is likely the most recent update.  The original altar, colour scheme, captivating set of Stations of the Cross and three bells in the bell tower all in tact.   

The sky was thick with smoke that day so the the outdoor photos aren't what I'd hoped for...my next visit will be on a "blue sky" day I'm sure.  There is a statue of Saint Anthony above the front door and a small outdoor altar in a protected corner of the churchyard.  The church is still in use.

The cemetery is on the opposite side of the road about a quarter of a mile west and is populated with many grave markers both old and new.  It's also still in use.

Thank you kind people for inviting me into your beautiful country church.  Making new friends is always a good thing...and thank you for brightening up a gloomy day.

Photographed near Grosswerder, Saskatchewan on July 15, 2023.

Ride Free

A headstone in North Park Pioneer Cemetery.

Photographed near Lea Park, Alberta on July 17, 2023.

Twins

Time for a rest.

Photographed at (New) Hillside Cemetery in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 9, 2023.

The Anderson Family Grave Marker

Definitely one of the most engaging grave markers I've seen in my travels.

Photographed at Bethel Cemetery near Wildrose, North Dakota on June 20, 2023.

Bethesda Lutheran near Milestone

A guest book along with a cache of postcards that give a brief history of the church is housed in a weatherproof enclosure beside the church.

"Norwegian Lutheran services were held as early as 1904, and in 1910 the Bethesda Norwegian Lutheran congregation was organized.  In 1912, Martin Johnson, a carpenter from South Dakota, was retained to construct Bethesda Lutheran Church with the assistance of the congregation.  Situated on an open parcel, the graceful steeple of this church can be seen for miles across the flat prairie landscape.  Modernized in 1928 with a concrete basement and furnace, the church served the surrounding rural community for church services, weddings, funerals, meetings and bazaars.  Many of the area's first settlers rest in the cemetery, which is located at the rear of the church.  Because of a steadily diminishing congregation, Bethesda Lutheran Church closed in 1973."

Visitors are welcome to take a postcard as a souvenir.

The church was restored in 2020. 

Photographed near Milestone, Saskatchewan on June 23, 2023.

Mickey

A mobile array of bluebirds whirling at Mickey's gravesite...

...delightful and comforting.

Photographed at Zion Cemetery near McGregor, North Dakota on June 20, 2023.

Long Shot (Saint Margaret's)

A tiny prairie cathedral in the majestic Cypress Hills of Alberta.

Saint Margaret's Church was photographed near Eagle Butte on August 28, 2017.

Heather's Garden (Update)

Some photos of Heather's Garden taken a couple of weeks ago.  Things are coming along nicely.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta on June 11, 2023.

Twin Butte Cemetery

End of the day near Colgan, North Dakota.

Photographed on June 19, 2023.

Saints Peter and Paul near Arbakka

This small Ukrainian Orthodox church was built in 1904 and stands in the countryside about a mile north of the Manitoba/Minnesota border.

The prominent structure at the front of the building could easily be mistaken for a bell tower but is actually a prominent entryway to the temple (a characteristic design of people originating from the Carpathian Mountains).

Across the churchyard is the cemetery.

Handsome old headstones mark the graves of pioneers. 

When the church was the centre of activity for the area there most likely would have been a wooden belfry that stood separately from the church and housed the bell that now stands on blocks beside the church.  

Locally the church is known as "Bilawchuks" as the land for the church and cemetery were donated by the Bilawchuk family.

Three simple budded crosses grace the roofline of the church.

The grounds are bordered on three sides by trees creating a park-like feeling...really quite a lovely place to visit.  A picnic table would be a welcome addition.  

Information courtesy of the Canadian Orthodox History Project.

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Temple and Cemetery was photographed near Arbakka, Manitoba on August 21, 2022.