St Henrys Roman Catholic Church
St Henry's Roman Catholic Church was built in Twin Butte, Alberta during 1906-1908, to meet the needs of families who had emigrated from Nebraska. While construction wasn't fully complete until 1908, the church was formally dedicated in 1907; and services were held. The church served the Twin Butte community for 94 years, until a shortage of priests led to its decommissioning in 2001. The church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.
Although the church is no longer used, the cemetery is still used by the local community. The Historical Society of St. Henry's maintains and repairs both the building and the cemetery. There is a couple living in the old rectory, who also look after things. While tours of the interior can be arranged by appointment, the inside was closed during our visit.
I take my hat off to the original builders. Leaving family and friends in Nebraska, to settle in sparsely populated Southwest Alberta, was courageous. Even today, the countryside is sparsely populated. When I made these images, I tried to capture what the original parishioners might have felt, as they stared eastward over that open prairie. I also tried to capture the sense of what people must think when they lay relatives to rest in a cemetery that overlooks a stunning landscape.
Read MoreAlthough the church is no longer used, the cemetery is still used by the local community. The Historical Society of St. Henry's maintains and repairs both the building and the cemetery. There is a couple living in the old rectory, who also look after things. While tours of the interior can be arranged by appointment, the inside was closed during our visit.
I take my hat off to the original builders. Leaving family and friends in Nebraska, to settle in sparsely populated Southwest Alberta, was courageous. Even today, the countryside is sparsely populated. When I made these images, I tried to capture what the original parishioners might have felt, as they stared eastward over that open prairie. I also tried to capture the sense of what people must think when they lay relatives to rest in a cemetery that overlooks a stunning landscape.
