Take Me To Church

At the end of my Northwest Manitoba Elevator Trip series, I mentioned I would post photos of some of the churches I encountered along the way.

I'm not religious, but I appreciate the architecture and history of churches in Manitoba and elsewhere. The Prairies are well known for their Ukrainian influence, which is part of my own heritage, and the Ukrainian churches are well represented here.

The very first church I photographed was in Glenella. This is the St. Andrews United Church, established in 1906.

St. Andrews United Church, Glenella, MB

It's a very simple country church, a good start to this ecumenical tour.

The next church I saw was in Makinak. I posted that one already.

The next two I photographed were in Dauphin. The first was this impressive church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection, Dauphin

This church was designed by the famed church architect Father Philip Ruh and built in the mid 1930s. I didn't go in it but the link above shows some lovely Ukrainian iconography inside.

The second Dauphin church I saw was the St. George Orthodox Church, another Ukrainian beauty.

St. George Orthodox Church, Dauphin

The next one I photographed was the much more modest All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church near Dutton, Manitoba.

All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Dutton, MB

While in Inglis I grabbed a quick photo of one church in the town, the Bethany Lutheran Church.

Bethany Luthern Church, Inglis

Not all of the area churches are Ukrainian!

Heading north, the next church I photographed was in Bowsman.

Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Bowsman

I found was this abandoned Catholic church in the ghost town of Renwer, Manitoba, my second favourite church.

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Renwer

I'm not sure what the smaller building on the left is/was, but it appears to be related to the church. The church building seems to be in decent shape but some of the windows are broken. I didn't approach it so I don't know what it is like inside.

I did a bit of HDR to shoot the church against the sun.

Passing through Cowan, I shot this Ukrainian church quickly, as I was running a bit short of time.

Church of the Holy Ghost, Cowan

The real gem of the trip was the next church, spotted on highway 10 just outside Cowan, at Sclater.

Sclater Ukrainian church

This abandoned Ukrainian "Our Lady" church was built in 1921. Again, I didn't approach it but it definitely has seen better days. I wish I had more time to look at it.

Continuing on, I photographed two churches in Ethelbert. The first was the very well maintained St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church.

St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Church, Ethelbert

At the other end of Ethelbert is this Greek Orthodox church.

Ruthenian Greek Catholic Parish of Sviatoho Ducha, Ethelbert

Two more!

Here is an impressive church in Winnipegosis with an impressive name, the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, built in 1929.

This is another Father Philip Ruh design, like the one in Dauphin. Don't confuse this church with another of the same name in Cooks Creek, Manitoba.

The last church I photographed was a more modest church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, in Fork River Manitoba.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, Fork River

There you have it - 14 churches photographed in a day to go along with the 20 grain elevators I photographed. There were many churches I missed or chose not to photograph. I hope you liked the ones I did photograph.

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