History of the Diocese of Saskatchewan

The Diocese of Saskatchewan was created in 1873 by an act of the Synod of the Diocese of Rupert's Land. Approval for this action had been granted by the Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1872. The first bishop of the new diocese, John McLean, was consecrated in 1874 and took up residence in Prince Albert in 1875.  

Originally the Diocese of Saskatchewan included most of the south and north-central areas of the present-day civil provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and a small portion of northern Manitoba.

For more information, including a list of Bishops, click here. 

W. F. Payton's 1974 book on the History of the Diocese is available by clicking here.

Click here to read an 1866 bulletin from the Church Missionary Society that discusses the Rev. Henry Budd, whose wife, adult son, and teenage daughter had died in the span of six weeks.  The bulletin speaks of his mission at Nepowewin, on the Saskatchewan River near Fort a la Corne.  This mission continues today among the three First Nations at James Smith Reserve and is not to be confused with the Town of Nipawin, further up the river. This transcription was sent to us by Project Canterbury

Bishop John McLean gives an account of his travels in the Diocese of Saskatchewan (and parts of the present-day Diocese of Brandon) in the period immediately following the Rebellion of 1885. Click here to read this account.

Canon W. H. English's report of the stunning growth of the church in the twenty-five year period 1900 - 1924 is available here.

Click here to read a story, written in 1956, about Stanley Mission.

Information about the 6th Bishop of Saskatchewan, the Rt. Rev. Walter Burd (1933-1939), published by his son in 2005, is available by clicking here.

Many writings, homilies and reflections by past Bishops of Saskatchewan are available by clicking here.