Bethel Lutheran Church

Rolling down a remote country road, the dust heavy in the air, first round a corner, then up a rise and to the left something interesting comes into view. We’re unknowing participants, riding along with a friend and our destination only hinted at but otherwise a mystery (we love surprises). There it is, Bethel Lutheran Church standing empty for many decades now, with time and the elements taking a heavy toll. On gloomy winter’s day, it’s sad and forlorn scene.

We exploring the Saskatchewan Plains, there’s a chill in the air and no one else around. On the ground now, we’re here to learn about the derelict building seen before us and the attached cemetery. The latter’s still in use, but on our visit covered by a thick blanket of wind-driven snow. In places the drifts were knee or even waist high and and hard as concrete. Elsewhere in the area, there was little and it’s as though it’s all been moved here.

This plot of land has been used as a Lutheran cemetery since about 1910 but the church didn’t come along until years later. Built in 1927, Bethel remained in use until 1959, with the congregation disbanding due to declining membership. It’s a story repeated time and again out on the rural prairies as people moved away over time.

The church is quite typical for out this way, simple in every way, long and rectangular in form, with steeply pitched roof and prominent steeple. The spire from the latter lies in pieces on the ground and we assume brought down by a good gust of wind.

The building looks square and feels pretty solid overall (the steeple incident excepted), but being exposed as it is can only mean bad things long term. As is usual the windows are minus any glass, but it’s always the first to go. Inside, there’s really nothing left behind, save for a couple light fixtures hanging on for dear life up there on the ceiling. Tiles and plaster have fallen away. The birds have gotten in and made a mess. It’s like so many other abandoned churches we’ve explored and documented here.

Overall, it’s not pretty inside Bethel Church, but then again it’s been vacant for sixty years and open to the outside for who knows how long.

Peeking in the wall cavities, it appears there’s no insulation in the building. Here in Saskatchewan…where it’s winter thirteen months of the year? And when we say winter, we’re talking minus twenty, on a good day and with an icy chill that’d freeze grandma’s kerchief off.

Strangely, here in extreme-cold Canada, we see this all time in old structures with insulation either lacking altogether or done ineffectively so as be practically useless. What in the world?

There’s a simple majesty to the building (Lutheran Churches usually eschew opulence) and while weathered and worn, a new coat of paint would have it looking new. Or so we imagine. Standing there in wonder, we picture what it was like back in the day and let our minds wander. All those weddings, funerals, fundraisers and regular Sunday services – we can see it playing out like a movie before us. Then after many moments lost in thought and with a blast of chilled-air, it’s back to reality. Damn that’s refreshing and tingly blowing up your skirt like that…I mean goodness not damn…

In the cemetery most headstones were buried under deep snow, but a few of the standing type were seen poking out here and there. Records show the first burials here go back to 1910 and the most recent, 2018. Rest in peace everyone and keep warm.

The word Bethel means house of worship or something close to that.

Lutheranism is popular in several Northern European countries, including Scandinavia where many settlers in the area around Bethel Church had immigrated from. It’s not a widely practised denomination in Canada with about sixty thousand members listed officially present day. To know more, go here (new window): Lutheran Church Canada

Stay tuned for more informative posts and more fun in the days to come.

They’re saying…

”Love the articles and blog posts. Very informative and interesting. Chris and Connie do a great job of researching and writing. The photos are amazing! Love it all.” Lila Cugini.

A Saskatchewan state of mind…
Avon School – Reading, writing and ‘rithmetic
Providence Grain – Marengo Saskatchewan – Before it burned down and was a working elevator.
The Clearwater – Popcorn and hotdogs – it’s drive-in movie time!

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

Date of Adventure: March, 2021.
Location(s): Somewhere, SK.
Article references and thanks: FindaGrave.com, Book: Memories to Cherish, plus our host and friend Dale.
If you visit Bethel Lutheran Church and Cemetery, please be respectful.

Bethel Lutheran Church, Saskatchewan.

It’s been empty for over sixty years.

The old fixture has somehow survived.

The cold world outside.

Time and the elements have taken a toll.

Imaging how it used to be.

Wind has brought down the steeple-top.

The building goes back to the 1920s.

The cemetery still sees some use.