Key Number:	HS 75208
Site Name:	Glen Leslie Church & Cemetery
Other Names:
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel 1706 - Funerary: Cemetery

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			72	3	6

Address:
Number:
Street:
Avenue:
Other:
Town:
Near Town:	Bezanson

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:
Superstructure:	Horizontal Finished Log
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:
Roof Cover:	Wood Shingle
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Single Detached Wings: Unknown Wall Design and Detail: None Roof Trim - Eaves: Plain Soffit Roof Trim Material - Eaves: Wood Roof Trim - Verges: Plain Soffit Roof Trim Material - Verges: Wood Towers, Steeples and Domes: None Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Centre Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: None Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Wood Window - Sill Type: Plain Slip Sill Window - Sill Material: Wood Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Opening Mechanism: Single or Double Hung Window - Special Types: None Window - Pane Arrangements: 2 over 2 Main Entrance - Location: Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Wood Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Number of Leaves: 1 Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: None Main Porch - Type: Recess Main Porch - Material: Concrete Main Porch - Height: First Storey
Exterior:	The Glen Leslie Church is a small rectangular building approximately six by nine metres (21'x31') in size. It is constructed of squared logs and has a gable roof clad in wood shingles. A brick chimney projects from the roof towards the rear of the building. The front (south) elevation features a five-panel door flanked by windows, and the east and west elevations feature three evenly-spaced windows.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	The church and its associated cemetery are located in a rural area of the County of Grande Prairie on Secondary Highway 670. It is situated approximately six kilometers south west of the hamlet of Bezanson and 20 kilometres east of the city of Grand Prairie. - location on a slight rise in a minimally landscaped lot and its association with surrounding trees and other vegetation; - spatial relationship with the associated cemetery located to the north and the looping driveway on the north side of the church.
Condition:	N/A
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started	1913/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Church School 1918-1928	1913/01/01 1918/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
N/A

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	D-2170 - GLEN LESLIE CHURCH, GLEN LESLIE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: In the summer of 1909, Dominion Land Surveyor Walter MacFarlane subdivided 17 townships on the Grande Prairie in northwestern Alberta into quarter-sections for land settlement. In the spring of 1910, the townships were thrown open of homesteading, and, during the next four years, there were 2,675 applications made for land on the Prairie, with 1,854 of them (69%) being proven up. One of the districts to receive a considerable number of applications was that of Glen Leslie, just south of Kleskun Hill, where 144 settlers took out land. In all, these settlers made 164 applications for land, with 86 of these being proven up. One of the homesteaders in this district was Thomas Leslie from Roslin, Ontario, who filed for and proved up NE26 TP72 R4 W6. His sons, Bruce and Norman, filed for land close by. With so much settlement in the area, Thomas applied to be the district postmaster in August, 1914. His application was granted, which was natural as his homestead was already serving as the district store. The name proposed for the post office was Glen Leslie, which reflected Leslie's Scottish heritage. Leslie's home also facilitated church services conducted by the Presbyterian minister Alexander Forbes from Grande Prairie. In November 1913, Leslie and Forbes jointly applied for ten acres of SW6 TP72 R3 W6 (which contained a substantial bog and was not then homesteaded) for land on which to build a church and plot ground for a cemetery. This was granted, and during the winter of 1914-15, logs were cut by local volunteers for a church building. Construction began on the structure that would become known as the Glen Leslie Church the following spring, with Alf Olson as the co-ordinator. The building committee consisted of Dan Minchin, Alex Milne, Lewis Fowler, and Bruce and Norman Leslie, and the total cost, born by local fundraisers, turned out to be $468. The first service was conducted by Reverend Forbes in October, 1915. The population of the Glen Leslie district was interdenominationally Protestant, and so attendees at the Glen Leslie Church were not exclusively Presbyterian. The church building was maintained by local volunteers. From 1918 to 1928, the church, now a United church, also served as the Glen Leslie School; many social events were also held there. In 1928, the cemetery was taken over by the Municipal District of Grande Prairie, and, once church services were curtailed in 1964, the County of Grande Prairie took over the church building as well. Having been well kept up, the structure was still useful for social events. It was provided with a foundation in 1970 and re-shingled in 1976. Special events continued to be held there, and, in 2002, application was made by a local group to have the structure designated an historic site. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The historical significance of the Glen Leslie Church lies in its provision of structural evidence of the small community of Glen Leslie, one of the many districts on the Grande Prairie, from 1915 until today. The structure is important also in providing structural evidence of an early Presbyterian church in northwestern Alberta. Description of Historic Place The Glen Leslie Church is a small rectangular building approximately six by nine metres (21'x31') in size. It is constructed of squared logs and has a gable roof clad in wood shingles. A brick chimney projects from the roof towards the rear of the building. The front (south) elevation features a five-panel door flanked by windows, and the east and west elevations feature three evenly-spaced windows. The church and its associated cemetery are located in a rural area of the County of Grande Prairie on Secondary Highway 670. It is situated approximately six kilometers south west of the hamlet of Bezanson and 20 kilometres east of the city of Grand Prairie.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
(not assigned) Provincial Historic Resource	2011/10/06

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-1363