It was 1908 when Charlie Davis donated a windswept acre of prairie at Lilac for St. Mary's Anglican Church. Lilac bushes and a stone cairn now mark the spot where the church once stood.
Dedicated hands raised the church, under the direction of George Anderson, a building contractor from Ruddell. When the men put away their hammers and saws, the women brought out their sewing supplies and bake ware. As the village of Lilac was part of the Hafford-Keatley-Bromley-Richard charge, and seldom enjoyed a resident minister, Lilac women gave room and board and transportation to student ministers. In 1913, the Anglican women of the area formed the St. Mary's Anglican Ladies' Guild to support the work of their church.
Over the years the church was embellished. In 1919, an honour roll of the 19 Lilac district men who served in the First World War was painted by Cyril Dupre and hung in the church.The original chairs were replaced with pews from the Fielding Anglican Church. Brass vases were sent from England as a gift from a summer visitor. Hand-carved wooden plaques were given by Mr. Wilmot of Maymont. The altar curtain and lectern came from St. Paul's Anglican Church in North Battleford. The altar covering was from Ireland, a thank you gift from a visiting student minister. A brass plaque in tribute of area pioneers was given in 1965 by the Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon.
The church was moved in 1965 to the North Battleford Western Development Museum.
In 1972, Rolly Desmerais, a television news photographer from Ottawa, began shooting a film called The Diefenbaker Years. Some footage was filmed at the WDM, with St. Mary's Church appearing in some scenes.
With the move of the church in 1965, the St. Mary's Anglican Ladies' Guild became the Lilac Ladies' Guild. Without the willing hands of the Lilac faith community, the church now needs the support of people who love history and want to preserve local heritage.
St. Mary's needs a new roof, new windows, new door and the tower needs to be properly re-attached to the rest of the building. The words of filmmaker Rolly Desmerais in 1972 ring as true today as when he said, "History is happening now, and someone must do something to preserve it before it is lost forever."
This pioneer church is part of a bygone era and a testament to how the simplest things in life, even spiritual succour, were difficult for pioneers. At the WDM in North Battleford, we are trying to preserve St. Mary's Anglican Church, its story and its historical connection to the area. Will you help?
