Steep Creek Church. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Save our church

Old church may be blessed with special designation

Nov 20, 2019 | 5:00 PM

An old church southeast of Prince Albert is approaching its 90th birthday, and the people who live in the area are fighting to make sure it stands another 90 years.

The Steep Creek Church Committee has reached out to the Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Prince Albert council, to have the church designated as a municipal heritage property. The designation would essentially make it easier for the committee to apply for and receive grants for repairs. During a tour of the church on Tuesday, committee member Ken MacDonald explained restoring the old church was a personal issue for him.

“My dad was one of the ones who got the church back in shape so you don’t really want to turn your back on that,” he said.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The process of building the old United Church dates back to 1929 when donations were gathered from the community ($1,080), and the land was purchased from James Menzie for $15. In 1933, construction was completed. The total cost of construction, the land and the construction was $1,293.64.

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An old pump organ remains in the church, a reminder of days past. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The last regular Sunday services were held in 1971, although other services had been held after this date. MacDonald said he would like to see another service at the church.

“There’s lots of people who would be interested in that but we have foundation problems. What should happen is a new foundation comes in but that’s thousands of dollars,” he said.

One way the Steep Creek Church committe has been fundraising is by selling shirts. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

In the summer of 2012, a violent storm hit the church, causing damage to the windows and roof, although the structure itself remains in fairly good standing. Committee members now volunteer their own time to ensure the floor gets swept and the walls get painted.

The ceiling of the church is showing its age. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Brittany Hastings, assistant administrator with the R.M. explained to paNOW the process of getting the municipal designation takes a bit of time. At this stage the R.M. has only passed a resolution to issue a notice of intention to the owner of the property that the R.M. would like to designate it as a municipal heritage property.

“If they have any concerns or anything that is their time to bring it forward,” Hastings said. “After that is done, we will publish a notice of intention in the newspaper [for the public].”

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell