'Making Connections' from Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan -
One of the initiatives for the 85th Anniversary celebrations of our United Church of Canada is 'Making Connections'. It gives opportunities to connect with other United Churches throughout Canada. We have heard from St. Andrew's in Fort Qu-Appelle, Saskatchewan and the following is a note to us from them along with a couple of photos.
...St. Andrew's has Presbyterian roots and the congregation was established in 1881 by Presbyterian missionary Rev. James Robertson. Services were held in the town hall until a church could be built on land purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company. The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1921. It was named St. Andrew's Union Church in view of the coming together of Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists during that great movement on the prairies in those years before 1925.
In 1962 a Christian Education hall was added which included a new kitchen, Sunday School room, secretary's office and minister's study.
Up until around 2004 Fort Qu'Appelle Pastoral Charge was a two-point charge, the other being Lipton, 16 km away. That church was sold and is now a family home. Folks from Lipton now worship at St. Andrew's and from what I understand it was a good transition. I have only been here since October 2008, coming from Janetville, Ontario near Lindsay.
Our average Sunday worshipers number 47. It is largely an aging congregation whose members remain faithful to the life and ministry of the church. There are some incredible 85+ year olds in our ranks and young/younger people here and there.
The town is nestled in the Qu'Appelle Valley surrounded by four lakes and many cottages so the population swells in the summer. Otherwise, our population is 2,000. We're surrounded by farm land, that 'see-forever' prairie big sky and are 45 min. from Regina. There are many First Nations reserves nearby as well as many First Nations people residing in town. We are in Treaty 4 territory. This all makes for exciting ministry and relationship building opportunities. We have a former chief of Starblanket as our guest speaker on June 20.
You will be named in our prayers on Sunday and we wish you a blessed celebration and rich ministry in your charge...
May the Peace of Christ be with you always.
(Rev.) Sharron Bodnaryk
