Saint John the Evangelist Part 2

I'd seen a few things in Fort Qu'Appelle and it was time for lunch.  I stopped at a cafe downtown and since I was starving I ordered a clubhouse sandwich with soup and fries...it was winter and I needed to keep up my strength (or so I told myself)!

My waitress was friendly so I asked if she might know someone who had a key to the "little stone church." She soon came back with the soup and a sticky note with a phone number.

After a great lunch I was back to the car.  I phoned the number and he said "be right there."

I met a man at the church a few minutes later.  As it turned out he'd been the organist at the church for seventy years...seventy years!  Wow!  I really can't imagine that to tell the truth.  He's ninety years old.

We had quite a nice chat while I shot some photos inside the church.  As mentioned in the previous post, all of the stained glass windows were donated by members of the church in 1985 on its centennial.  They really are beautiful.  Enjoy!

Above: looking towards the back of the church from the altar.

 These are the windows along the north and south sides of the church.

This is the largest of the eight windows and is the focal point of the back wall.

Looking towards the altar.

Photographed on December 16, 2019.

Saint John the Evangelist Part 1

On my last road trip of 2019 I passed through Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan on a very overcast Monday morning.  I hadn't been through here in about forty years and since my memory really isn't very good, it was pretty well all new to me.  Saint John the Evangelist Anglican Church immediately caught my eye.

The stone building with brick accents is mostly original to 1885 and is in beautiful condition.

I love the big square bell tower at the front corner.  And yes, there is still a bell in the tower.

The stone cairn on the street corner was erected on the one hundredth anniversary.

Also on the one hundredth anniversary...members of the church donated beautiful new stained glass windows to grace their historical stone church.  More about that next time.

Photographed on December 16, 2019.

Wildlife

A pronghorn meets a doe and her fawns.

Photographed near Conquerville, Alberta on August 5, 2017.

Czeremchniw

Czeremchniw Polish Parish Cemetery is near Buchanan, Saskatchewan.

The welded steel cross, flag pole and main marker are in the centre of the cemetery.

I love the tall hand-painted cross on the right hand side of the photo.  These budded crosses are frequently found in the cemeteries of Eastern European immigrants.  The script and decorations on this one had recently been refreshed with new black paint.

Beautiful black and gold gate sign adorned with golden-coloured maple leaves and cross.

Photographed on December 19, 2019.

Saint Basil's at Gorlitz

Saint Basil's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Gorlitz, Saskatchewan.

This is the original church building founded and built in 1908.

There is also a bell tower with a bell and an attached rope.  Ring the bell!

The main marker for the church and cemetery.  As in most country cemeteries there are lots of hoof prints in the snow.  These small protected areas are a refuge for wildlife big and small.

This area of Saskatchewan was settled largely by immigrants from the Bukovina area of Ukraine.

A small wooden cross at an unidentified grave.

New posts holding up the steel entrance gate.

An annual service and feast is still held on Pentecost Sunday.

The cross on the peak is a simple plywood cutout painted white.

A photo taken through the window showing the Royal Doors, iconostasis and candelabra on the left.  This must have been a spectacular sight on a Sunday morning in the early 1900's...and still is to me in the early 2000's.

Last look at the little country church and then on my way.

Information courtesy of the Archdiocese of Canada and the Orthodox Church in America Archives.

Photographed on December 17, 2019.

Valentine

Saw this in the Elrose Cemetery.

One of the best valentines I've ever seen.

Photographed near Elrose, Saskatchewan on October 23, 2018.

CP Caboose

A Canadian Pacific caboose on display at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The exterior of this one is made of wood...it's an oldie.

Photographed on January 18, 2018.

Brant Grain Elevator

The grain elevator at Brandt, Alberta.

Now privately owned by B&T Farms, Ltd.

These photos were taken during a three-day trip to Vulcan County a fews years ago.  My work season as a gardener was pretty well over and it was time for a road trip.  I was blessed with lots to see, good weather and friendly people...gotta like that.

Photographed on October 13, 2018.