Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Roman Catholic Church

Fort Chipewyan

Street Address:
Community:	Fort Chipewyan
Boundaries:	Lot 1B, Block 18, Plan 7620316
Contributing Resources:	Building: 1

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD
4 4	7 7	112 112	7 7	10 (ptn.) 11 (ptn.)

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel
7620316	18	1B

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
58.712359	-111.172864	GPS	NAD 83

UTM Reference:

Northing	Easting	Zone	CDT	Datum Type

Recognition

Recognition Authority:	Province of Alberta
Designation Status:	Provincial Historic Resource
Date of Designation:	1998/05/25

Historical Information

Built:	1909 to 1909
Period of Significance:
Theme(s):	Building Social and Community Life : Religious Institutions
Historic Function(s):	Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship
Current Function(s):
Architect:
Builder:
Context:	HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE When the Oblate fathers decided to establish a mission in the territory northwest of Rupert's Land, it was not surprising that the site chosen was Fort Chipewyan. Not only did the district contain a relatively large number of indigenous people, it was the centre of much commercial traffic, serving the fur traders by being accessible by water from all four directions, including the Slave and MacKenzie River to the north, the Peace to the west, the Athabasca to the south, and Lake Athabasca to the east. Fort Chipewyan was visited by Father Alexander Tache in 1847, and upon his recommendation, a mission was established there two years later by Father Henri Faraud, the first resident priest. The Hudson's Bay Company helped him build a church in 1851, and on September 8th, it was named "The Nativity of Mary" for the feast of that day. In 1857, Father Faraud undertook construction of a more substantial log structure, which would serve as the spiritual centre of Catholicism in the region until the completion of the present building in 1909. Father Emile Grouard was here during 1862-63 and from 1888 until 1902, and in 1891, he was consecrated Bishop of Ibora and Vicar Apostolic of Athabaska-MacKenzie, with the Church of the Nativity as his headquarters. In 1902, Bishop Grouard moved to St. Bernards's Mission at Lesser Slave Lake, but Fort Chipewyan remained in the Athabaska-MacKenzie Vicariate, although he continued his personal interest in the church. It was due mainly to his initiative that the present structure was built in 1908-09. It was designed by the bishop himself, and he also painted some of the murals inside it. On June 20, 1909 the new church was officially blessed by Bishop Grouard. The historical significance of the Church of the Nativity lies in its service as a spiritual centre for people of the Roman Catholic faith in northeastern Alberta from its inception in 1849, through the completion of the existing structure in 1909, to the present. The site was the location of the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Vicariate of Athabaska-MacKenzie from 1891 to 1902. The structure is also important for its association with a number of historically significant members of the Congregation of Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in particular Bishops Henri Faraud, Emile Grouard and Patrice Mercredi, and Father Louis Le Doussal. HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE When the Congregation of Oblates of Mary Immaculate decided to establish a mission in the territory beyond Rupert's Land in the British north west, it was not surprising that the site chosen was Fort Chipewyan. Not only did the district contain a relatively large number of indigenous people, it was the center of much commercial traffic, serving the fur traders by being accessible by water from all four directions, including the Slave and MacKenzie River to the north, the Peace to the west, the Athabasca to the south and Lake Athabasca to the east. Fort Chipewyan was visited by Father Alexander Tache in 1847. Upon his recommendation to Bishop Provencher, Father Henri Faraud who became the first resident priest established a mission two years later. The Hudson's Bay Company helped him build a church in 1851, and on September 8, was named "The Nativity of Mary" for the feast of that day. In 1857, Father Faraud undertook construction of a more substantial log structure, which would serve as the spiritual center of Catholicism in the region until the completion of the present building in 1909. Father Faraud served Fort Chipewyan until 1861, when he moved to Ile-a-la-Crosse, from where he would function as the first Vicar Apostolic of the new Vicariate of Athabaska-MacKenzie. Following his departure, a number of priests came to serve including Father Emile Grouard during 1862-63 and from 1888 until 1902. In 1891, he was consecrated Bishop of Ibora and Vicar Apostolic of Athabaska-MacKenzie, with the Church of the Nativity as his headquarters. In 1902, Bishop Grouard moved to St. Bernard's Mission at Lesser Slave Lake Settlement with Father Louis Le Doussal becoming the resident priest at the Church of the Nativity from 1882 until 1923. As Fort Chipewyan remained in the Athabaska-MacKenzie Vicariate, Bishop Grouard continued his personal interest in the church. It was due mainly to his initiative that the present structure was built during 1908-09. It was designed by the bishop himself, while M. Gervais from St. Remi, Quebec supervised construction. Many local parishioners as well as Brothers F. Dumas and Jean-Marie Le Cref, undertook to see this project through. Murals inside the church were painted by Father Grouard himself as well as the Grey Nun, Sister Default. On June 20, 1909, the new church was officially blessed by Bishop Grouard. It has served as the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic faith in the region ever since, being transferred in 1927 to the Vicariate of MacKenzie. In 1934, the church saw the ordination of Father Patrice Mercredi, a native of Fort Chipewyan who would go on to serve 25 years as the Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Smith-MacKenzie. The historical significance of the Church of the Nativity lies in its services as a spiritual center for people of the Roman Catholic faith in northeastern Alberta from its inception in 1849, through the completion of the existing structure in 1909, to the present. The site was the location of the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Vicariate of Athabaska-MacKenzie from1891 to 1902. The structure is also important for its association with a number of historically significant members of the Congregation of Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in particular Bishops Henri Faraud, Emile Grouard and Patrice Mercredi; and Father Louis Le Doussal.

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-0532
Designation File:	DES 1923
Related Listing(s):
Heritage Survey File:	HS 34477
Website Link:
Data Source:	Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 1923)