Prairiedale Anglican church celebrates 100th anniversary
By Joan Janzen
St. Catherine’s Anglican Church at Prairiedale, Sask. celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday, August 7. The historic church is located one mile west of Major, Sask. The Reverend David Nevett officiated at the 2:00 o’clock service, after which everyone was invited to the Delmer Patton farm for a potluck meal, including barbecue beef on a bun supplied by the Patton and Jeffries families.
Photo by Julie Patton, click for larger images
Both the church and St. Catherine’s Cemetery were consecrated on August 13, 1922. Local resident Murray Jeffries said his dad helped to build the church. “It was all built by hand because they didn’t have power, and it was all volunteer labour. The school was built first, then the church,” he explained.
Prairiedale School was built in 1911 and opened in 1912 with 20 pupils attending. The school closed its doors in 1958, and the building was eventually moved and then demolished. Church services were held in the school beginning in 1914 until 1921, when the church was built south of the school.
According to information from “Where the Wild Goose Flies”, the history of Prairiedale and Smiley area, the church was built under the direction of Roy Everett and Harry McCormick, with funds coming from Saint Catherine’s parish in England.
The Reverend David Nevett noted the church was built while Archdeacon Hasell was the priest of the parish. He was affectionately known as “Hurricane Hasell” because of his untiring energy and forthright way of getting things done. He and his wife Constance were a team, serving the people of the area.
Archdeacon Hasell was born in England on July 1, 1889. He, along with his wife, came to Canada, where he was ordained a Deacon in 1917 and a priest in 1922 and appointed Archdeacon in 1945. He stayed in the area until his retirement in 1961.
His wife’s family in England were described as “rich,” often contributing financial assistance in various ways. The relatives in England may have been involved in the donation of pews from a church in England.
“Communication was by telegraph back then,” Murray Jeffries explained, “So there was a delay in the arrival of the pews.”
The Archdeacon’s in-laws also sent money for a new car during the Dirty Thirties. His wife was somewhat embarrassed about their good fortune when others had so little. However, with the help of their family in England, the couple was also able to bless the people in their community.
The Reverend Nevett recalled there were many wonderful stories about what the couple did for the people in that area, particularly in the Dirty Thirties, when none of the farmers had anything. Bales of gifts were sent out at Christmas time free of charge, so there would be a little gift for both adults and children when Christmas concerts were held. “Archdeacon was one who loved rural communities,” the Reverend Nevett said.
Murray Jeffries was baptized and confirmed at St. Catherine’s. He recalled the priest travelling on a speeder on the rail line to Loverna for baptisms and funerals during the winter months.
When a farmer explained his absence from Sunday service to the Archdeacon, saying he had been in the field haying, the priest had a witty response. “I’d rather you were cutting hay and thinking about church than being in church thinking about cutting hay,” he said. The Archdeacon and his wife did a lot for the community, and Prairiedale was one of many churches he established in western Saskatchewan.
Information recorded in “Where the Wild Goose Flies” notes that Prairiedale and Smiley Anglican churches amalgamated in the 1970s, with services held at Prairiedale in the summer and Smiley in the winter.
Archdeacon Hasell retired to the west coast for two short years until 1963, when he returned to Alsask to become the Padre to Canadian Forces Station, Alsask. The Reverend David Nevett has the robe that Archdeacon Hassel’s dad wore when he was a minister, which was on display during the August 7th celebration. The Archdeacon and his wife are buried in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, which is still being used today.
The community has maintained the beautiful church building, which is used when a burial takes place. People from Alberta and throughout Saskatchewan came to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Catherine’s Church and reminisce with friends they hadn’t seen for many years.