Key Number:	HS 36401
Site Name:	Stry - Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Eucharist
Other Names:	Stry - Ruthenian Greek Catholic Parish of St. Michael
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			58	13	4

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

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:	Ukrainian-Canadian Church Style
Plan Shape:	Cruciform with Apse
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Gable
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Exterior Chimney Roof Trim - Eaves: Projecting Eaves Roof Trim - Verges: Projecting Verges Chimney Stack Material: Brick Window - Special Types: Half-Round Window - Special Types: Semi-Circular
Exterior:	Projecting eaves and verges, plain soffit, exterior brick chimney, half-round window over entrance, round windows, on all 4 facades, semi-circular windows, 2 on apse, 4 on dome, 1 on each side of both nave and narthex, plain flat door trim. Style The Stry Ukrainian Catholic Church (the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Parish of St. Michael) is a wood frame vernacular adaptation of the Byzantine style, rooted in ecclesiastical basilica architectural traditions of the Eastern Roman Empire. In keeping with this building convention, the church is complete with a large central dome on an octagonal drum, supported by pendentives that provide for the transition from the rectangular crossing of the nave and transept to the circular base of the dome. Also conforming to the Byzantine style is the strong religious symbolism of the cruciform plan and the east-west orientation of the central axis of the nave, with the front façade and altar facing west. Constructed over a ten-year period, from 1934 to 1944, the church presents a typical exterior, sheathed with horizontal wood siding, and with volumes, projections and gables that directly relate to the arrangement of interior spaces. Of particular note for this building style are the striking onion domes starting with two small sheet-metal domes, on small octagonal drums, flanking the west façade. The prominent central dome over the crossing, on a large octagonal drum, is also sheathed with sheet metal and is surmounted by an open octagonal cupola, on which rests a small onion dome and ball supporting a wrought-iron cross. The central drum is fitted with four semi-circular fixed-transom rectangular windows on the west, east, north and south surfaces. Design The design of the Stry Ukrainian Catholic Church follows the strict building traditions of this prairie Byzantine church style. Of particular note are the expertly executed domes and drums as well as the open cupola crowning the large central dome. Additionally, the design of the altar baldachino (the ornamental structural canopy over the altar), the pilaster mouldings and traditional painted icons within the building are exquisite and well preserved. Construction The Stry Ukrainian Catholic Church is a wood frame building resting on a board-formed concrete foundation. The exterior is sheathed with horizontal featheredge siding that terminates at vertical corner boards. The domes appear to be of a typical construction technique where curved members are lapped to form the onion dome profile, then sheathed with crimped and soldered sheet metal sections - horizontal seams are soldered and vertical seams that correspond to the octagon shape of the drum, are sealed with a crimped standing seam and soldered. The two small domes that flank the west façade are constructed in a similar manner. On the interior, the transition between the rectangular shape of the crossing and the octagonal base of the drum is achieved with four pendentives springing from simple pilasters at the corners of the crossing. The ceiling of the central dome is flat and covered with painted acoustical tiles, from which the chain for the chandelier is hung. The drum and crossing are illuminated by four fixed rectangular windows containing coloured glass, surmounted by semicircular fixed transoms. The windows pierce the drum at the west, east, north and south walls of the drum. The interior walls of the church are sheathed with 4'x 8', ½ -inch thick, fibreboard material, a light wallboard made of compressed wood pulp such as "Beaver Board," laid horizontally in a staggered fashion. The fibreboard material below the chair rail is manufactured with a vertical v-groove pattern resembling wood paneling. Above the chair rail, the material provides a smooth painted surface but the dimensions and arrangement of the panels can be observed in raking light. The finished floors in all areas of the church are narrow wood hardwood strips with a clear finish, however, apse floor area has been covered with a red carpet.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Adjacent to cemetery and parish hall, rural setting, situated in corner of open field, surrounded primarily by deciduous trees, exclusively agricultural infrastructure. This resource is clearly visible from several kilometers away on the Stry Road, just off Secondary Highway 859, southeast of the town of Vilna.
Condition:	Good. 12 NOV 1987.
Alterations:	The Stry church remains in its original location on its concrete foundation. It is clear upon approaching the structure that its essential character defining elements have remained unchanged and well preserved. Of particular note are the superb onion domes raised on octagonal drums, as well as the original finish materials, fenestration and massings that reflect the interior spaces of the cruciform plan. Although minor changes to the foundation and entry doors have been made, the structure has been well maintained over the years and retains a high level of integrity. The building appears to be structurally sound with minor interior water damage under most windows due to the lack of exterior storm windows. Additionally, there is some water damage to the fibreboard finish panels at the crest of the arch between the west pendentives.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started Construction Ended	1934/01/01 1944/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Church	1935/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
N/A

Architect:	Rev. Phillip Ruh
Builder:	Harry Holowaychuk.
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Phillip Ruh, first parish priest. Parish used to be named the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (this is how it appears in the source cited below). * * * Landmark The church serves a wide regional congregation and may be considered a conspicuous structure in the district. The Stry church is not only an important structure to the parishioners and regional population, but it contributes to the historical continuity of other buildings in the area and to the collection of Ukrainian-Canadian churches in East-central Alberta. * * * D-2151 - STRY UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORICAL CONTEXT: By the time the Canadian Northern Railway was extended to Edmonton from the east in 1905, the rich agricultural region south of the North Saskatchewan had already been partially settled. Most of these first residents were First Nations or Metis, but, when the land was surveyed for homesteading purposes during the early 20th century, a number of Ukrainian settlers also began to come in. They can be seen as an extension of the Ukrainian settlement which had already been established around Vegreville and Mundare. After the coming of the railway, more Ukrainian immigrants arrived, and, soon, their presence was extended north of the North Saskatchewan River, where the land was surveyed for homesteading during 1905-06. Here, a number of small settlements sprang up, one of them being Stry, just west of the Saddle Lake Reserve, where, most of the settlers were from the western Ukraine, or Bukowinia. In 1910, a post office and store were opened at Stry, with the first poatmaster being Zenobius Mikitka. That same year, work began on a Catholic church and cemetery near the store, for most of the surrounding settlers were of the Catholic persuasion. The log church was designed by Father Philip Ruh, the first resident priest of what would be St. Michael's Parish at Stry, who was also an architect. In 1913, the church was completed, with the sides of the structure plastered with mud. In 1919, however, the Canadian National Railway extended a line north of the North Saskatchewan River from Edmonton to St. Paul, and the railway community of Vilna was established 12 km north of Stry. This brought even more settlers into the district, many from war-torn Poland and the Ukraine. As a result, there was soon a need for a new and larger church. It was not until 1934 however that work began on the new church, which was designed by a certain Mr. Hrudey. The contractor was a Mr. Holowaychuk, with most of the work being volunteer. Hrudey and Holowaychuk, who lived near Vilna, had also built the local school at Stry. The cost of the lumber, supplies, fixtures and furnishings for the new church was paid for by various fundraisers such as bazaars, picnics and bingos. The altar was built and decorated by a Mr. Wanat, while Nestor Chmilar built the tetrapod. Being an eastern rite church however, the design of the building was complex, especially with the cupolas, and the structure was not completed until 1944, even though services were being conducted shortly after the central nave had been serviceable since 1934. In the meantime, the original church building was converted into a parish hall, a function it would serve until a new hall was built in 1957, with the original log structure dismantled. The Rutherian Greek Catholic Church at Stry has served the community ever since its completion in 1934, with summer services being conducted by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate from Mundare. The local chapter of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League also undertook some of its activities from this premises. Today, the Parish is seeking to have the structure restored to serve as both a church and a heritage landmark, telling of the early settlement of the district of Stry. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The historical significance of the Ukrainian Catholic Church at Stry lies in its service to the district as a church and a social centre ever since its erection in 1934. This includes all services that a community church traditionally provides, including social as well as religious functions. In 1942, its Orthodox counterpart, the Church of the Holy Ghost, was built nearby.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4664-0208