Pella Mennonite Church

Today we’ll be looking at Pella Mennonite Church found along a dusty Saskatchewan backroad. It’s just over a century old and for more than half that time has stood abandoned. During an oddly warm and snow-free March of 2021, we pay this modest little building a visit and get to know it more. There are no money shots to be had here, but it’s not about that.

There’s a cemetery on the grounds, a bit overgrown and with only a handful of grave markers to be seen. It’s all so forgotten, and standing here one can’t help but feel a bit bummed. Does anyone remember? Could this be our friend and journalist Johnnie Bachusky’s fabled “saddest place on earth?” I think he’d agree, minimally, it’s in the running.

Pella Church dates to 1916 although the congregation goes back a couple years before and operated out of member’s homes until this structure was completed. Serving Mennonite settlers, many originally came from Manitoba and later the Soviet Union. The official language for services was German and it’s mentioned that members were of a mix of many different Mennonite affiliations.

The building is simple in form, a modest rectangular one-room affair, with a small entrance vestibule and a stuccoed exterior. There’s some nice pressed metal ceiling tiles inside, many of which have fallen to the floor – the stories they could tell. Most of the roof shingles have long rotted or blown away, but the nails that once held them remain behind and line up as though soldiers on parade.

It’s otherwise completely empty and lacking windows (they’re the first to go, always, when a building becomes abandoned) means birds and inclement weather have both taken their toll on the interior. One must wonder where the various interior furnishings went, including a pump organ mentioned in one write up.

Pella Church is not all that different in appearance from many rural schools and could easily be mistaken for one. An image search shows that Saskatchewan Mennonite Churches often took a similar form and were never opulent in any way. The church has a footprint some ten metres by five and so not much bigger than a good sized garage.

Fast forward to the 1940s and membership has shrunk. Some families move away due to failed crops whereas other folks heed the call of the big city. It’s not something unique to this area, but happened all over the Canadian Prairies once the original settlement boom ended (with the coming of the depression). Farming ain’t easy so it’s off to a better life and that’s completely understandable. By the 1950s, membership had dropped even further. Still, a photo from that era shows the congregation in front of Pella Church and there’s easily some thirty people seen.

By 1958 the church closes for good and it’s said only two or three families attended regularly by that time. The building has stood empty ever since and while the years have not been kind, it should come as no surprise it’s a bit rough given how long it’s been since last used. It’s surprisingly solid in feel, however, but one can’t help wonder how much longer it has. One beam snaps and boom it falls apart, but then all things must end and while it’s sad I suppose, that’s the way it goes.

What’s in a name? The Global Mennonite Encyclopedia has this to say: “The name, Pella, is derived from the town (ed: in the Holy Land) where in 66AD the Christians of Jerusalem fled pending the Jewish revolt against the Romans and thus were saved from destruction.”

The cemetery on the same plot of land was established in 1928. Looking forlorn and forgotten, it’s marked by a fairly modern looking memorial down by the road. Records are a bit lacking so it’s not clear just how many folks are interred here but the count for confirmed burials (those with grave stones) stands at three. These belong to the Peters brothers, Peter, Jacob and Frank born in 1933, 1937 and 1939 with each passing shortly after birth (just over a week, just under a week and the same day, respectively). Times were tough in the ’30s out here on the Prairies and many young ones didn’t make to their first birthday. We see it all the time in cemeteries – just look for headstones decorated with a lamb – there’s way too many of them, however.

This must have been devastating for the family but they did have many other children (born in the 1920s mostly) that went on to have decently long lives. But how in the world could a couple handle a death like this once, let alone that many times?

We came away a little sad.

Pella church and cemetery are located in a picturesque valley near a meandering stream. It’s a nice setting, I guess, for the Peters’ to spend eternity and who ever else might be buried here.

The Mennonite Church in Canada goes back to the late 1700s and present day has about thirty thousand members. Try this search to know more (new window): Mennonite Church Canada

Don’t go away as there’s more new articles to come in the days to follow.

They’re saying…

”Love the stories, love the history and appreciate the effort to document both in words and pictures before it’s all gone – or maybe to help keep it alive!” Kathleen Raines.

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If you’d like to chat or want more information on what you see here feel free to contact us!

Date of Adventure: March, 2021.
Location(s): Nowheresville, SK.
Article references and thanks: The Global Mennonite Encyclopedia, FindAGrave.com and lastly our host for this adventure, and dear friend, Dale.
If you visit Pella Mennonite Church, please be respectful.

Down a dusty SK backroad, it’s Pella Mennonite Church.

A few shingles remain.

Last used in the 1950s, it’s showing its age.

These old ceiling tiles must have a story to tell.

The cemetery nearby.

There’s only a few marked graves.