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History of the Churches of Shaunavon
The opening of the Shaunavon District for settlement in 1907 to 1908 brought people of many faiths to this prairie area. One of their first tasks was to organize their churches. Today there are many congregations in Shaunavon, giving opportunity for freedom of worship. There were many hardships in forming these churches but through the passing years they have grown in God's Strength.
Click on the Church's name to read some of the history
The History of the Anglican Church
On Good Friday, 1914, the first Anglican service to be held in Shaunavon took place at the Princess motion picture theatre with the Rev. A. E. Burgett, later Bishop of Edmonton officiating. A week later, on April 19, the Rev. T. J. Davies took first service in the town. He was the first Vicar of Shaunavon.
In the fall of 1915 the All Saints' Anglican Church was built, an the first service was held on Christmas Day. Earlier, a two-room vicarage had been built where the Parish Hall is now. This is part of the present vicarage which was built in 1917. The Parish Hall was constructed in 1924.
The first vestry organized in 1914 had as vestrymen Messrs Whitby, Roycroft, Hicks, Shackell, Steward and Ablett. The church wardens were P. Wood. and F. G. Horsey.
In 1914 the choir was started, also the Ladies' Guild which later became the Women's Auxiliary. The Altar Guild began about 1921 and the Sunday School was organized in 1917.
The Parish of Shaunavon extends from Cadillac south to the American border. Most of the time this large community has been under the leadership of the rector at Shaunavon. At other times there were also residents rectors at Eastend and Climax. Services were held in school houses, farm houses and ranch houses in the rural areas.
In 1953 "The Qu'Appelle Crusader" said "Since 1914 the church, and the town of Shaunavon, has gone through many vicissitudes which could have destroyed its life and vigour, reverting back to the open prairie. But the spirit and faith of the people of Shaunavon overcame the difficulties, and today the town is proud of its achievements - lively and go-ahead in all its business organizations. In this the Anglican church and its faithful members have played a prominent and full part."
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The History of Christ the King Church
Before the organization of the Roman Catholic Church in Shaunavon divine services were held in homes throughout the district.
A member of this parish, Mr. P. Ganley purchased the S1/2 17-8-18 from the C.P.R. on August 12, 1912. Later he donated two acres of this land adjoining the townsite east of town to the Catholic Church.
Father Caraher began the building of a basement church in 1914. This was finished in October of the same year. Bishop O. E. Mathieu of Regina blessed the new church on May 25, 1915 and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart. Rev. Fr. Sammut was rector in the early 20's for the erection of the new church in 1939. The church was completed in the fall of the same year. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on December 10, 1939. His Excellency Bishop Grey blessed the new church on the 14th of December. The new church was dedicated to Christ the King.
The Sisters of St. Louis came to Shaunavon upon the request of Father Reibel in 1945 to start the Parochial School of St. Joseph. In 1953 they were replaced by the Ursuline Sisters from Prelate
Father Knauff at present serves Christ the King Church
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The History of the Centre Street United Church
Rev. Edward Luctkar, a Methodist, who was homesteading here due to his health, conducted service in Pilot and Anglo Schools as far back as 1911 and 1912. After 1913, when the town started, services were held in any available building.
A new building was moved onto A. Hipfner's land in August, 1913. There were other squatters there waiting for the sale of lots on the townsite. This house, which belonged to John Prosser, was later used as a blacksmith shop. On a Sunday morning the building was erected and a Methodist church service, possibly the first service to be held on the Shaunavon townsite, was held that evening. Services were held once or twice in this building after it was moved on the townsite.
Services were held in the Princess Theatre, which is now the Bastura Block, in the fall of 1913 and the spring of 1914.
Through the winter the summer of 1913 and 1914 various buildings were used for Presbyterian services. A Presbyterian organization bought the two lots where the United Church is now situated. Rev. Sarkissian applied for a call in 1914 but as the joint committee for co-operation of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches met in Swift Current and decided that Eastend was to be a Presbyterian mission field and Shaunavon a Methodist one. He did not come.
In the town's first year, on the lots across the street, now owned by George Straub, (corner of 6th Ave and Centre St.) the Methodists held a building "bee" to build a parsonage, which is now the back part of the Straub home.
The first resident minister was Rev. David Pile, who serviced during the summer of 1914.
A school building was moved in 1915 to the corner of Centre St. and 4th which became the first church and was in use for 15 years.
The Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalists united in 1925. A large sum of money was raised by donations in 1928 for the purpose of building a new church. The cornerstone of the church was laid by W. J. Smith and the church was dedicated on Jan 12, 1930. Rev. J. A. McKeigan of Zion Church in Moose Jaw, was the guest speaker.
During the ministry of Rev. Pile, a meeting was called at his home to organize a Ladies' Aid. Mrs. A. Hipfner, the only woman to attend, said; "Well, lets start one now. You be the president, Mrs.Pile the vice-president, and I'll be the secretary." At the next meeting in a home, with seventeen members present, Mrs. Hipfner was elected president.
The Women's Missionary Society was organized early in 1919.
The Sunday School was first held in a one-room country school about two miles north of the present Powermine School.
Rev. H. S. Blezard is at present serving the Centre Street United Church.
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The History of the First Baptist Church
The first Baptist Church in southwestern Saskatchewan was established in the spring of 1913 before the town of Shaunavon was named. This was also the first church in Shaunavon. The Rev. E. B. Johnson, a Home Missionary from North Dakota was the first pastor of the church.
The first Christmas program was held on December 24, 1912 in a Baptist home. Other services had been held before this time in the Coleville School. and in various farm homes.
On September 17, 1913 the Rev. W. D. Reckie, Superintendent of Home Missions for the Saskatchewan Convention of Baptist Churches bought lots on which the building, begun on October 3, was completed and dedicated on November 16, 1913. This church building was used for a year to hold public school classes.
The first Baptist Sunday School was organized on June 1, 1913, with an attendance of 21 and an offering of $2.30.
In 1914 an addition to the church was built.
In February, 1916, the Brandon College Band, which visited the church to interest the people in evangelism, was instrumental in influencing 25 people who became Christians.
The church after 1914 suffered a great loss from the effects of World War 1 and of crop failure.
In 1916 the name of the church had been changed to First Baptist Church of Shaunavon.
By Jan 3, 1917, a 16 foot addition to the church was completed to accommodate the increasing membership.
The Baptist Women's Mission Circle was organized on May 13, 1911. This society carries out the work of the supporting the Baptist Overseas Missionary work and of education local members in the need for overseas expansion. The chief supporter of the church building program is the Baptist Ladies' Aid, also began in 1917.
The Parsonage was built in 1918 during the period when the Church and Sunday School were closed by law on account of the flu epidemic. At this time schools in the outlying rural area served as preaching points.
The guest speaker at the twenty-sixth anniversary of the First Baptist Church on October 15, 1939, was Rev. W. H. Ellis. He had been the pastor when the church was built.
The thirty-seventh anniversary marked the dedication of a full basement and a new heating system. Two years previously, building alterations which included the remodeling of the platform and refinishing of the interior had been completed.
This year a complete renovation of the church is being carried out. The present pastor is Rev. A. G. Stewart Liddell.
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The History of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church
In the early years of this century many of the people of Swedish descent, who migrated to Canada, settled on homesteads in the Shaunavon area. After them came Pastor K.J.Bring of the Augustana Synod with his buggy drawn by a team of old horses. He organized the four congregations which since have merged into the Salem Lutheran Church of Shaunavon.
North of Shaunavon the Lebanon Church was organized in 1910 at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. S. Person and M. O. Hornseth. The Zion Lutheran Church was started at the home of Mr. Eric Anderson, 10 miles southeast of Shaunavon in June 1914. Salem Lutheran Church was organized March 22, 1916. Very little information is available regarding the organization of the Mal mo Lutheran Church south of Scotsguard.
Pastor A.D. Wattman was the first pastor of Salem. At this time the building of the parsonage was begun but only the ground floor was completed.
Pastor Bring, who served as vice-pastor of Salem until 1927, served the large territory from Assiniboia to Shaunavon, including Swift Current. It is interesting to note that Pastor Bring baptized Pastor P. Eriksson, the present pastor.
The Salem Lutheran Church was built and dedicated in 1929.
Although Zion was disbanded in 1932, its twenty fifth anniversary was celebrated in 1939. It is of interest to note that services in the churches were often held in the Swedish language and that the minutes of Salem were at first written in Swedish.
In June, 1947, a ceremony celebrating the burning of the church mortgage was conducted. In 1953-54 the parsonage was completed and modernized.
The most recently organized society of Salem is a Brotherhood formed to promote the work among the men and boys of the community. Earlier societies are the Sunday School, the Luther League, Concordia and the business Women's Missionary Society. These societies promote the work of missions and the local work of the congregation.
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The History of the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was organized in Shaunavon on May1, 1918, under the leadership of Ensign Marshall and Lieutenant Bucknell.
The organization of the brass band was made in 1927 by Bandmaster A. J. Halsey. Many people may enjoy remembering their music. Until the citadel was opened on Centre Street in December 1930, by Col. W. Peacock, services were held in various places in town. Col. W. peacock was second in command in the Canadian Territory. Ensign Evelyn Grey and Lieut. L. McFarlane were the commanding officer and assistant at that time.
One of the branches of the Army is The Home League. This is a ladies' auxiliary which assists with the projects of the corps.
The Corps Cadets , is a class of young people who study the Bible.
A children's group for fun and handicraft together is the Branch of Love.
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