Call for support of St Catherine’s Church cemetery

By Tena Bannerman of MacDowall

For some years, the members of St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish, MacDowall, have been responsible for the cemeteries in the parish. Over the years, we have prevailed upon local residents and interested individuals, with ancestors buried in the cemetery, to maintain the grounds. This has happened at St. Andrew’s Church, Halcro, St. Paul’s Church, Lindsay, and also St. Luke’s Church, Lily Plain.

Interested people took time to locate descendants and encourage a fund to be set up to hire someone to do the maintenance and be in charge of the funds. Reports to the Vestry indicate that the above-mentioned churches have done just that.

We feel that a similar arrangement could be adapted for St. Catherine’s Cemetery, too. Many volunteers have faithfully tried to maintain the grounds over the years, but it is a difficult task.

We are asking for the help of the general public to get involved with the management of the cemetery grounds at St. Catherine’s church. We are proud to say that this church was the second Anglican church in the province. It was established on the western outskirts of what is now the city of Prince Albert. It was consecrated in 1877. The hearty settlers arriving from Manitoba made their homes in the established Isbister Settlement and were very happy to have a place of worship.

The original church was replaced in 1932. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by arson in 1988. Because this is a very historic area in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, we feel the cemetery must be maintained and become a proud link to the early pioneers who opened up this area for us.

Please offer your assistance by helping with a clean-up bee or by providing a donation as an on-going support for the maintenance of the grounds. For more information, call Beulah at 764-7643, or t.bannerman@sasktel.net