Key Number:	HS 18778
Site Name:	Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
Other Names:	Behel Lutheran Church
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			46	24	4

Address:	Sacred Heart Cemetery
Number:
Street:
Avenue:
Other:
Town:
Near Town:	Wetaskiwin

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Cruciform with Apse and Narthex
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Gable
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Wall Design and Detail: Balcony
Exterior:	U-shaped balcony not common to this type of structure.
Interior:	A loft and gallery were added to the church in 1899. Men and boys sat in the balcony while the women, girls and babies occupied the pews on the main floor. The boys considered themselves very grown up when they were allowed to sit in the balcony with the men. A large wood burning heater near the door heated the Church and everyone paused here to get warm before mass.
Environment:	Located on the original property of the Roman Catholic cemetery in Wetaskiwin.
Condition:	Small, typical rural church, with two side windows. In reasonably good repair - requires some restoration.
Alterations:	1899 - Fr. Dubois surrounded the mission property with a good fence, 'the prettiest in town', and he placed a good loft and gallery in the Church which had become too small.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed Moved to 47 Street and 47 Avenue Moved to present site	1894/01/01 1911/01/01 1974/07/23
Usage:	Usage Date:
Catholic Church R.C. Separate School Catholic Church Lutheran Church Roman Catholic Church	1894/01/01 1901/01/01 1903/01/01 1912/01/01 1974/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Roman Catholic church Bethel Lutheran Church The Catholic Archidiocese of Edmonton	1894/01/01 1912/01/01 1974/11/05

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Former location: 5101 - 49 Avenue, Wetaskiwin. Heritage Significance: This was the first Roman Catholic church in Wetaskiwin area, and remains one of the oldest buildings in the region. Fathers Lacombe and Leduc celebrated mass here while on visits to Wetaskiwin. The Church was used as the first Roman Catholic Separate School for the district from 1901 to 1903. Bethel Lutheran Congregation used the building for church from 1912-66. Church returned to Roman Catholic church in July 1974, and moved to old Roman Catholic Cemetery originally associated with this church. Constructed in the style typical of late 19th and early 20th century rural Alberta churches. Unique feature in this church was the U-shaped balcony - not common to this type of structure. * * * Alberta Culture News Release For Immediate Release Early Wetaskiwin Church Designated One of the oldest buildings in the Wetaskiwin area, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church No. 1, has been designated a Registered Historic Site by the Minister of Culture, Hon. Horst A. Schmid. Constructed in 1894, this was the first Roman Catholic church in Wetaskiwin, and Fathers Lacombe and Leduc celebrated Mass here on several occasions when visiting the area. The Sacred Heart Church was constructed in the typical style of small frame churches in Alberta in the late 19th century, but its U-shaped balcony is unique. Sacred Heart Church has had a varied history: When a schoolhouse became necessary it was used as the first Roman Catholic separate school for the Wetaskiwin district. In 1912 its use as a church was resumed by the Bethel Lutheran congregation, who conducted services in it until 1966. In July 1974 the Roman Catholic Church bought the building back and moved it to the old cemetery on the outskirts of Wetaskiwin which was originally assocated with the parish.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: