Church Windows

October 19, 2017

A collection of church windows I found remarkable each in their own way.  Kudos to all the artists, designers and craftsmen who had a hand in the realization of these illuminated wonders.

Above is a beautifully designed window at Saint Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Parish in Weyburn, Saskatchewan...including a sheaf of wheat, a mouse and more.

November 24, 2018

The window shown here is to the side of the altar at Saint James Catholic Church in Powers Lake, North Dakota.  There are seven classically styled stained glass windows in the church and then there is this one that utilises a modern design to depict a biblical story: the dove bringing an olive branch to Noah to show that the flood waters had receded.

December 16, 2018

This small round window of green and orange pressed glass is high above the altar at Maryland - Queen of the Apostles Roman Catholic Church near Lampman, Saskatchewan.  It was a very cold day that I stopped here but I could see smoke rising from the chimney...yes, it was toasty warm inside.

August 9, 2018

A cross of glass block behind the altar at Glentworth United Church in Glentworth, Saskatchewan.  There's just enough light to outline the candelabrum and not quite enough to reveal the cross on the altar.

December 17, 2018

Most of the windows at Saint Andrew's United Church in Arcola, Saskatchewan are simply translucent glass bordered by red and blue squares and rectangles.  But there are two others: one of Jesus holding a lamb which is above the altar and this nativity scene placed inside the front entrance to the church.  The elongated and angular elements of the design make it a rare and exceptional find in this part of the world.

August 10, 2018

This red and blue gothic arch is midway up the stairs to the balcony in Saint Boswells' Trinity Lutheran Church in the R.M. of Glen Bain, Saskatchewan.  The reflection on the landing helps to make this rather simple window appear brilliant and luminous.  I stopped here on my way home from a road trip around the Assiniboia area... it was sweltering 39°C outside.

November 23, 2017

This is a shot of the choir loft at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fort Benton, Montana. The tall red, yellow and purple window panels rise from floor to ceiling in this mid-60's style church.

October 16, 2017

The crest of the United Church of Canada at First United Church in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  The heads of wheat are a gracious nod to the prairies.

October 19, 2017

This is the top half of a very tall stained glass window at Grace United Church in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. To give an idea of the scale, the pew at the bottom of the photo in on the balcony inside the church.

October 21, 2018

One of seven traditionally designed stained glass windows at Hogeland American Lutheran Church in Hogeland, Montana. The anchor symbolizes hope and appears in epitaphs dating back as far as the first century A.D.

May 7, 2017

The rose window above the front entrance to Saint Ambrose Anglican Church in Redcliff, Alberta.  The centre of the window as well as each petal display a bright red bloom.

November 26, 2018

One of many stained glass windows in Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare, North Dakota.  All of the windows here are designed as diptychs, except for this one of Jesus.  It is also the only window in the church that is constructed of thick glass with multiple chipped edges to give it that extra sparkle.

October 19, 2017

A second offering from Saint Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Parish in Weyburn, Saskatchewan: a white dove with rays of bright red and gold.

August 9, 2018

Green and yellow panels in a gothic arch frame at McCord United Church in McCord, Saskatchewan.  This is a popular colour combination in many churches.

October 25, 2018

The triptych design and use of muted colours gives this window an "old world" appearance...a piece of the distant past.  It is installed behind the altar at Saint Andrew's United Church in Eston, Saskatchewan.

January 8, 2018

A spectacular stained glass window mounted on the back wall of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  There are so many beautiful windows in the church it's pretty well impossible to pick a favourite.

September 29, 2017

One of several identical red and white windows at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Admiral, Saskatchewan.  On bright sunny days the interior of the church is literally filled with a red glow.

January 5, 2019

My personal favourite from this collection.  This is one of three small windows that is fitted below the onion-dome on Saint James Russo Greek Catholic Orthodox Church near Mundare, Alberta.  Looking up into the dome really gave me a sense of wonder.

I hope you enjoyed the church window tour.

Baby Boots

Spotted this at Saint Boswells' Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in the R.M. of Glen Bain, Saskatchewan. 

I've only seen this design a few times in my travels and "pretty sweet" is an understatement.  A very loving and thoughtful remembrance of a baby gone to heaven. 

Photographed on August 10, 2018.

Worship at 11:30

The United Church in Cut Knife, Saskatchewan.  It has both a crenellated bell tower and a crenellated steeple...that makes it a little bit special in my book.

A Celtic cross on the roof peak.

Everyone welcome!

Photographed on October 23, 2019.

Gutenburg's Corner

At a country crossroads near Tramping Lake, Saskatchewn.

This barn has a decided slope to the south.

The view to the west.

I found some "Gutenburg" headstones in a nearby cemetery.

Remember that Bill Withers song, "Lean on me..."

Photographed on November 18, 2019.

Saint Laurence Anglican Church

Saint Laurence Anglican Church is in the village of Monitor, Alberta.  This is the view from the rear swinging-doors towards the altar.

And this is the view from front to back.

Beautiful solid wooden beams and tongue-in-groove ceiling.

The arched stained glass window above the altar.  The inscription along the bottom reads: "to the glory of God and in loving memory of our pioneers."

The altar with its green and white draperies.

The baptismal font..."suffer the little children to come unto me."

The reverend's chambers.

The view from outside.

A German trench mortar mounted in front of the church.

Monitor and the surrounding area contributed a record amount to Victory Bond sales.

More views from outside.

The Celtic cross on the rear peak of the roof.

The church has never been locked since it was opened in 1915.  It is listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places.  In my opinion, "It's a beauty!"

Photographed on November 15, 2018.

Happy American Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving wishes from Hogeland American Lutheran Church.

Photographed in Hogeland, Montana on October 21, 2018.

Meeting Lake

The appealing and very photogenic Saint John Cemetery near Meeting Lake, Saskatchewan.

The pink granite main markers listing all those known to be buried here.

The cemetery sign...

...and just down the road is a sign where the store and post office used to be...

...and up the road is where Saint John's Lutheran Church welcomed all.

Photographed on October 24, 2019.

Whitkow Elevator

The abandoned Pool elevator in Whitkow, Saskatchewan.

This one is a nice combination of straight and sturdy mixed with weathered wood and peeling paint.

I stopped to talk with a young fellow who was making some repairs to a combine just down the road from the elevator.  There had been an early snowfall and some of the farmers in the area (including him) still had crops in the fields to be harvested.  The weather really has gone crazy over the past few years.

Photographed on October 24, 2019.

Concordia Lutheran Church

Velkommen to Concordia Lutheran Church, established in 1905.

The church is in good condition and the grounds are well maintained.

It was a nice surprise to see the bell still in the bell tower.

The church sits in a little meadow next to a farm yard.

The stained glass window above the front door.  Overcast days make for the best photos of stained glass windows as it's much easier to control the light.

I'm used to seeing the old-fashioned type of altars in Lutheran churches but this one is of modern and artfully economical design.  It looks very 1960-ish.

The patina on the wooden pews is second to none and a delight to see.  Each pew consists of a tongue-in-groove back with a solid plank for each seat and end.

Looking towards the altar from the entrance.  The church would comfortably seat over a hundred people.

Usually the basement of a Lutheran church has a "gathering place" with kitchen and tables for the parishioners to socialize over a meal.  Not so in this case...these timbers keep the basement walls from collapsing.  Good to see that someone cares.  I hope it lasts for another century.

Photographed near Canwood, Saskatchewan on October 25, 2019.