Friday, July 13, 2018

Meandering Through Mearns

One of things I like while out travelling is spotting a church spire in the distance. Like a moth to flame, I am drawn to that church!

From a distance is how we first saw St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church (Est. 1930) at Mearns, AB. Once we arrived at the church, we saw a house on either side of it and that appeared to be all there is left at Mearns. As we continued on our trip, we unintentionally found the St. Charles Cemetery just to the NE of the church. A sign at the location stated that the original St. Charles was located here from 1902-1930.

After looking up the church, it looks like it hold services once a month. Weekend masses rotate between it and 3 other parishes in the area. I have been to the 3 other places but only happened to take a photo of the church in Villeneuve. The other parishes are in Riviere Qui Barre and Calahoo.

Nice church. Darn powerlines.



At the entrance to the cemetery.

B&W and Darn Powerlines. 




28 comments:

  1. I love the old churches too Jenn. If the walls could talk...

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    1. Thanks Marie, such history in these places!

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  2. Everything looks very nicely maintained!

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    1. Hi Debra, I am wondering if the caretaker lives in one of the 2 houses there.

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  3. A beautiful church, I love seeing this well maintained and cared for church. Those darn powerlines look the same here too. :)

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    1. Thanks Bill, similar shape to many country churches here but still unique and beautiful!

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  4. Glad it's still used a little bit.

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  5. I didn't notice the powerline until you pointed it out

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    1. They drive me crazy but not enough to edit them out or anything.

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  6. Beautiful church! Those powerlines could be Photoshopped out but they can be a pain... better to move the feet if possible. Sometimes that just isn't possible.

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    1. Hi Steve, I will just have to live with them in this case lol. Did you notice my previous post about the train museum? It was very cool! I am sure you would enjoy the museum!!

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  7. How you'd love it here in East Anglia (UK) - there's almost always a church tower or spire visible! I'm always intrigued by N American churches in that they follow the overall shapes and design of European and British churches but almost always they are built in wood, even in areas where there is plenty of stone available. Executing those Gothic windows must be difficult using timber.

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    1. Hi John, I would be in my glory over there I am sure. I did see parts of the UK when I was younger and would love to go back.
      The shape of this church and many of the one rooms school houses seem to follow this design, simple and functional. Many of the original buildings were log before there was a mill in the area, if they survived they would have been covered in the milled wood. Stone buildings are rare in Alberta and would have been quite labour intensive. I am always happy to find a stone building or house.

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  8. This one is a beauty! More cemetery shots, please. :-)

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    1. Thanks Michael, I should've gone right to the cemetery. Next time!!

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  9. It is lovely! I don't know how they can afford the upkeep with services so rare.

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    1. Hi RedPat, exactly what I wonder....I am sure lots of the upkeep is by volunteers. I always also what will happen to a lot of these places once the older people that look after them are gone.

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  10. ...such a wonderful church, just the kind that I love to find. 😀

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    1. Thanks Tom, I find an old church almost every time I am out exploring! Some in use, some abandoned, but all beautiful.

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  11. all are beautiful but i especially loved the first one!!!

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    1. Thanks Debbie, I love these country churches.

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  12. That is unfortunate about the power lines, but they're still great pictures.

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    1. Thanks Danielle! At least they are all real, as I see it photos I guess! :)

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  13. They are closing this church down 2022

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    1. Sad to hear, hopefully it will still be looked after.

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