McDougall Memorial United Church

Four days ago, on 3 March 2016, I set my alarm clocks with the intention of getting out earlier than usual, but it was yet another failed attempt. Eventually, though, I did get out on my drive NW of the city, hoping that I might just be lucky enough to see a Great Gray Owl again. This time, there was no sign of one, despite four pairs of eyes searching at various times. Makes me feel even more grateful that I had better luck on 28 February. Many people drive all the way there and return disappointed. As always, it's all about timing and luck : ) The only other things I saw on this drive were four White-tailed Deer, maybe half a dozen Common Ravens, and an adult Bald Eagle - all seen from a great distance. I don't know if the fact that it was a very windy afternoon was keeping wildlife hidden out of the wind.

On the way home, I decided to drive a bit further west towards the mountains as far as the old McDougall Memorial United Church. I love this little country church, especially the long, photogenic fence line leading up to it from the parking lot. This photo was taken from the back of the church, so the fence is out of sight, but there are plenty of fence photos in my album. The church was built in Carpenter's Gothic style of architecture. A sign had the following words on it:

"The historic church at the end of this pathway was constructed in 1875. At that time, native people were still hunting bison on the prairies. The young nation of Canada was only eight years old; the Canadian Pacific Railway still nine years in the future. And this church would become the heart of a thriving community, Morleyville, and for a time the largest settlement in what would be southern Alberta.

The story of this church is really the story of Rev. George McDougall who moved to western Canada with his family in 1862 to minister to the fur traders and native people. In 1873, the McDougalls established the first mission in the region and built this church. In doing so, they wrote an important chapter of Alberta's settlement history".

After George McDougall's tragic death in a snowstorm, his body was brought back to the church at Morleyville and laid to rest.

www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8788

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morley,_Alberta