In 1916, a decision was made that would change Bonnyville forever. On Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, the St.
In 1916, a decision was made that would change Bonnyville forever.
On Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, the St. John's United Church will be hosting their centennial celebration, which will be a weekend of reflection on the journey the church has been through since being founded by Rev. John E. Duclos 100 years ago.
The supper and program will take place on the Saturday at 5 p.m. at the church and is open to the public starting 2 p.m.
On Sunday, a service will be held with a special guest, Rev. Heather Carlson, a past reverend at the church.
The cost for the supper and program is by donation.
"There will be some historical elements," said Pat Perry, centennial committee member.
The event will have some similarities to the church's 50-year celebration, such as Ukrainian dancing and local music.
"We are consciously bringing the past forward a little," Perry added.
Jean Antoniuk, one of the centennial committee members, described a monologue, which will include the reading of a letter written by Duclos, founder of the original St. John's United Church.
Cutting the centennial cake will be descendants of some of the original families who brought Duclos to Bonnyville so many years ago.
"It's been really lovely to look back and learn about the history of the church," Perry said.
It was March when Duclos came to Bonnyville, after receiving letter after letter supporting his arrival, and following his visit with the residents he decided to help.
His wife, however, was not so eager to leave their church in Edmonton. It wasn't until one morning when Duclos opened the bible at random for their morning worship and read this passage that she changed her mind.
"There on the page that he had opened it to was, 'For a great door and effectual is opened unto you, and there are many adversaries,'" read Perry, who added Duclos' wife played a major role throughout their time in Bonnyville.
Perry continued, "It was the reading of that verse that brought about her support for the project, and she became hugely influential.... Having initially really opposed it, she threw herself into the project, and was really important into bringing these really wonderful things about."
At the time of his arrival, residents were attending a church that spoke only one language, and did not support their need for a multi-lingual service.
"The mass was served in Latin, and they couldn't understand it, they didn't have bibles to read in their own French language, and some of them could not read or write and they wanted that," Antoniuk said.
That same year, a plan was made to begin construction of a new church, and the tree cutting began.
Three hundred logs were cut in the construction of the church, which started in spring 1917.
"It's lovely to think of individual families getting involved in doing that physical work to bring the church about," noted Perry.
In 1920, the church, which was made-up of 90 members, was officially named the l'Englise St. Jean.
Five years later the ministry joined the United Church, which was followed by the Canadian National Railroad's arrival in 1928.
It was nearly two decades after that they church was brought into town. To do so it was pulled physically with the help of a CAT and timber logs.
In September 1989 a new building was built, and the old church became the Bonnyville Royal Canadian Legion.
The Duclos' built churches throughout the Lakeland, including Cold Lake, Lessard, Iron River, St. Paul, Rife, and Elk Point, and also played a hand in the construction of Duclos School, and two hospitals.
"Duclos was hugely influential in the creation of Bonnyville," Perry explained, encouraging locals to join them and learn more of Bonnyville's history. "I think it's of interest to people because of how historically important Duclos' work was... and a lot of people might be interested simply because of the history, and what he did in terms of Bonnyville."
Centennial committee member Judy Marsh added, "I find it interesting that we are having a lot of former ministers come back, and people that were here years ago, I think it will be a great time of fellowship for everybody."
