PREECEVILLE — Plans had been in place for some time to bless and then demolish the abandoned St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, located southwest of Endeavour, because the church was no longer in use and had fallen into disrepair. The steeple from the church, which was built in 1959–60, was moved to a new chapel constructed on the church property in 2024.
"St. Mary’s was officially registered with Saskatchewan Land Titles on Jan. 10, 1919," said Ken Lozinsky.
However, there are several graves that predate 1919, meaning the cemetery was in use at least by 1917.
The parcel of land where St. Mary’s is located was donated by Stefan and Anna Daschuk (portion of SW 31-36-5-W2). St. Mary’s is 1½ miles west and 2½ miles south of the Village of Endeavour.
The church and cemetery were originally registered as “Maria Dalysziw Greek Catholic Church.” However, due to difficulties getting Catholic priests to come to the area, parishioners switched to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), and the church and cemetery are now officially recognized by the UOCC. A recent UOCC calendar refers to St. Mary’s as a “lost” (abandoned or closed) church.
The name “Maria Dalysziw” came from the area of Galicia (now part of Ukraine, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) where many Ukrainian settlers originated — specifically Daleshowa. “Maria” likely referred to Mother Mary. Over time, the church and cemetery became known as St. Mary’s.
Through the efforts of Dwight Greba, who contacted the Ukrainian Orthodox minister, and Brad Romanchuk, who arranged for the contractor, the plans were realized on April 3, when there was still plenty of snow on the ground to facilitate the demolition and burning of the old church.
Greba arranged for Father Yurii Obukh, minister for the Canora/Kamsack/Swan River Ukrainian Orthodox Parish, and Zenovia Duch, cantor, to come to St. Mary’s to bless the church before it was demolished.
Romanchuk arranged for Cliff Strijak of Hyena Enterprises to use his track hoe to demolish the church. A hole was then dug in the frozen ground to bury the remains of the church, which were subsequently burned, as is the tradition with abandoned Ukrainian Orthodox churches in Canada.
Father Obukh remained to witness the demolition and, along with Greba and Romanchuk, photographed and videotaped the process. He posted the photographs on the parish’s Facebook page and sent documentation of the removal to the Ukrainian Orthodox Consistory in Winnipeg.
Then, on May 24, Romanchuk contracted Brent Walker of Preeceville, who used his tracked skid steer to level the site and spread topsoil brought in by Hyena Enterprises. Walker’s wife, Darlene, has a number of family members buried in the cemetery.
Finally, on June 10, Romanchuk harrowed the site and spread grass seed. With recent rainfall, the area is expected to fill in with grass quickly. In the future, all that will remain of the church will be the dome on the chapel — and the many memories of those who attended services there.
Greba noted that Father Obukh plans to return this summer, hopefully on June 22, to hold a special service in the new chapel and to bless it. A list of donors who contributed to the revitalization, a cemetery plot plan with names and locations, and other historical information will be provided inside the chapel.
The committee hopes that families who attended services or have loved ones buried there will join the event.
Father Obukh also suggested placing a metal Ukrainian Orthodox cross at the approximate location of the former altar — another tradition for demolished churches. The committee plans to explore this.
While the demolition and burning of the church was a sad moment for Greba, Romanchuk and other members of the St. Mary’s committee — many of whom had attended services and have family buried there — they knew it was the right decision.
The church had become a safety hazard and liability. Yet the history of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church will live on through the new chapel and the well-maintained cemetery, which continues to be used.
Veechnaya Pamyat — May the memories of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church be eternal.
