Dear Editor:
I read with interest your article, Lilac church: historic landmark needs repairs (Regional Optimist Dec. 5). I will try to relate some of the memories and activities in the 1950s and '60s.
After our marriage in another Anglican church, my husband and I started to attend this quaint church. Three of our children were baptized here. The attendance was never large, but adequate. Regulars were Welfords, Gillatts, Johnsons, Pains, Pattersons and others. Mary Moffat, who now resides in Calgary, Alta., was organist.
When I visit this church at the Western Development Museum I know exactly where we sat and where everybody else sat. I vividly remember the late Mrs. Welford in her fashionable wine dress and matching hat and also the late Dora Patterson with every silver curl in place. For some reason the men's attendance was not so prevalent. It seemed to them Sunday was a day for "odd jobs."
I belonged to the Anglican Ladies' Guild and I was one of the many who gave board to the student ministers for a whole week in July.
I don't remember any funerals or weddings taking place, these were held at the Ruddell United Church. But there were baptisms, communions and special events like the Thanksgiving service when the altar was decorated with garden produce. I was quite proud of my display of gourds but I heard the late Tom Patterson quip "and what are they? You can't eat them."
Money was raised by making quilts and raffling them. Events like this had to be at Lilac School. We made blocks for the quilts but the late Mrs. Welford was instrumental in assembling and did most of the work. She was a very dignified, friendly and hospitable lady, setting a good example and was an inspiration to all of us. Her example is lacking in our society today.
My motto for attending church is "Go to church Sunday, rest of the week rolls merrily along. Don't go and 2,001 things go wrong.
With the closing of the church we became members of Ruddell United Church. I did miss "the Apostles' Creed" as it wasn't repeated too often at Ruddell.
With its colourful history and stories let's make every effort to preserve this quaint little church as it so proudly stands at the WDM.
Laura Prescesky
North Battleford
