St Joseph’s Church Courval SK
In this report we look at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in the tiny community of Courval Saskatchewan. Very photogenic, it is one of a handful of buildings still standing in what is essentially a ghost town, While needing a coat of paint and some other repairs, it’s otherwise in an overall reasonable condition. I don’t think it’s been used for quite some time but someone still stops by to mow the lawn and check on things. You can see that.
We’ll explore the building and grounds while a storm brews above us. The skies threatened, but thank goodness only a few drops fell. The boiling clouds added an almost spooky and melancholy element to the photographs we shot.
Given there is so little to be found on this structure, this report is going to be lacking in some ways. We’ve scoured books and online sources and gleaned very little from it all. We also spoke with locals and while all knew of the church, few knew much else about it.
The church was built in 1928. We know that much, a faded plaque on its steeple tells us so. It’s not known if there was an earlier Catholic Church at this site, or elsewhere in Courval, but I’d say one of the two possibilities is a good likelihood. There was after all a large percentage of Catholics in the area (Francophone settlers, mostly from Quebec), going back to around 1910 and the Church was always an important part of that culture.
It’s not known when the building was last used. It does not appear totally abandoned but rather is in some sort of limbo from what we could see. Someone it taking car of it, to a degree. It’s locked up tight, thanks goodness. That will keep the birds, elements and vandals out. I looked through a crawl space window at the building’s foundation and underside bits and they looked fine.
Located in back is the “grotto” (Grotte et chapelle – cave and chapel), a symbolic religious display often found at Catholic Churches. This structure, according to a plaque, was added in the 1960s.
St Joseph’s is surprisingly large church for such a small population base. Recall, there was a disproportionate number of Catholics in the area. I am not certain if there were ever any other churches in town of other denominations. If so, presumably they would have had small congregations.
Seen near the front of the church is a bilingual monument dedicated (in 1964) to Courval’s early pioneers. Note all the francophone names, which are still common in the area to this day.
We found a duck’s nest on the grounds and inside we counted ten eggs in total. The parents were not seen, but probably were close by watching us. It was cool out, so we made a quick retreat so they would return to keep their clutch warm.
The Courval area was settled about a hundred years ago. Today the “town” has what looks to be, based on our tour of it, a population comprised of one single family. In 2001, according to a census, ten people lived here. At the peak, and this is only a guess since there is precious little to be found in regards to the subject, there was perhaps several dozen people living here at most, plus more living on farms nearby. A circa 1930 map shows the town was two blocks square, double what it is today.
The railway came through Courval in the early 1930s and was abandoned some six decades later. It was a sleepy grain branch line once belonging to the CPR (its Shamrock Subdivision).
Seen near the church is the remains of an old grain elevator. Its lineage is not known. At the peak there were four such buildings in Courval – the two last closed in 1984 and 1990 respectively – and presumably this is what’s left of one of them. Research is ongoing and we always welcome input from our readers. I’d be curious to know why the structure was partially demolished then simply left behind.
I was not able to find much evidence of the old rail line nearby. It’s like it never existed.
Also spotted nearby, right across the road from St Joseph’s in fact, is an interesting old farm truck. This is a mid-1950s R Series model (R180 to be exact) from International Harvester. This make to truck was quite popular in rural Saskatchewan – you could buy an IH trucks at the the same place you bought and serviced your tractor. A larger rural dealer network assured the company a steady stream of customers.
The R Series line of pickups (R110 to R180) were made from 1953-55. Larger models continued in production for a time after.
If you like churches, go here…
Calgary then and now – First Baptist Church.
Claresholm then and now – Latter Day Saints Church.
St Edmund’s Church Big Valley Alberta.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: May, 2014.
Location: Courval, SK.
Looking through whatever information I could find on Courval and found this. I grew up in courval. There were 2 Elevators. Searle Grain and the Pool. My dad ran the Searle grain elevator. they owned the Hotel also. mom also had the post office. I have a book on the complete History. I went to School at a 2 room school house called St Charles. Interesting Photo and story. Barry
Thanks for adding to the story Barry! We always enjoy when our readers do that. Have a great day!
This is a lovely set of photos. The lighting is super. I have added this location to my bucket list
Yes, the sky was amazing! We so lucked out.
(via Facebook)
Great photos, a great color comparison between the truck and the church. Just love it!
Those dark clouds sure helped the colour pop!
Awesome shared to Ghost Town Hunters.
What took you so long? Haha!
Small towns in Sask disappearing so sad, I am formerly of Swift Current and miss Burnham, Neidpath, Duncairn and so many others. There were dances in a lot of these small communities and a pleasant safe place to spend an evening dancing, eating and of course drinking. I was a teenager.
Pretty soon there will be no one left in these towns. It’s sad for sure. Hold on to those wonderful memories!
Awesome pics! My husband and I were married at the grotto 40 years ago. Church looks like it is still in very good shape!
What a great venue for a wedding. Such an historic place.
Have been there many times, beautiful church inside and out.
Would love to see inside!
My uncle got married here in the 1990s.
Very cool, I’d bet it was an amazing venue. I’d love to see inside.
Grew up around Courval! Did you happen to get any pictures in Coderre?
We visited the grain elevator…https://www.bigdoer.com/16400/exploring-history/prairie-sentinels-coderre-saskatchewan/
We also visited the church and old school, but the photos didn’t turn out that good. A reason to return! We love the area.
From the photo of the same church I posted on Facebook in the one group, a lady commented who grew up in Courval. She said the last regular service was in 1981, and it was opened afterwards only for special occasions or special requests. The last time she remembered it opened was 1994. She was baptized in the church and her dad was a alter boy there. I sent her your webpage link!
Awesome, a bit more history comes to light!
I went here in August 2004 and took a few pictures. There was no breeze that day and everything was so quiet. Your pictures are fantastic and I really enjoyed them.
It’s such a nice building and such a peaceful setting.
Awesome stuff Chris and Connie! Looking forward to more posts like this!
There are more in the works!
Great photos, the clouds behind the ruins are perfect! Very good!
Thanks, and I was worried (at the time) the pictures would be unusable. The light was so bad.
Beautiful. Love the old truck.
Comments are coming fast and furious! It is a cool truck.
Breathtakingly beautiful!
Beautiful shots!
Wow, you really are a well-traveled man, Chris!
I can’t stand still!
Is the tree growing inside the elevator remains?
Yes, so the building, or rather what’s left of it, has been sitting here for a while.
Beautiful and so very sad to see the demise of western Canada small communities
It sure is melancholy.
Beautiful…shared to Ghost Town Hunters.
Thanks, we love your page!
Nice lighting for superb photos!
When shooting I was worried the clouds would be blown out. Thanks goodness they didn’t.