By Cheryl Marx
Audrey Gaschnitz
Shirley Kuefler
Marilyn Stewart

The High Prairie United Church is amalgamating with its sister congregation McLennan United Church.

As with other church congregations across Canada, declining attendance over the past several decades led the High Prairie church to pursue another direction.

The congregation joined the McLennan United Church on Sept. 1, 2024 for the first service as amalgamated churches.

However, the official amalgamation is expected to be completed by summer.

Weekly services at McLennan are held Sundays at 10 a.m.

The High Prairie church has a history longer than the United Church of Canada. Shortly after High Prairie became a community when when the railway came through in 1914, a group of people wanted to form a Protestant church other than the Anglican church. Their Sunday services and Sunday school started in 1916.

After the United Church of Canada was established in 1925, a meeting in High Prairie on Feb. 26, 1926 organized the local church.

The first United Church building in High Prairie was constructed in 1926 at the corner of 50 St. and 52 Ave.

The original church building was moved in 1985 to the Pioneer Threshermans Association site in Triangle where it still stands.

Upon outgrowing that original building, a second church building was constructed in 1982 at the corner of Pleasantview Drive and Silverwood Cres. east of Pleasantview Lodge.

In 2015, the church trustees recommended selling the building which was accomplished in 2016 when an offer was received from Truong RX Ltd, which established the Medicine Shoppe at that location.

The United Church congregation was then welcomed by Redeemer Lutheran Church, who offered to share their space on 53 Ave. (Highway 2) at the southwest corner of the intersection at 51 St.

The Lutherans held morning services and the United Church congregation held afternoon services.

Once a month, the United Church held a service at Pleasantview Lodge.

Since both High Prairie and McLennan United Church congregations have shared a minister in the past and participated in joint services, amalgamation is a natural transition.

At present, McLennan has a candidate for ordained ministry, Bernadette Levesque, who will be ordained within one year.

High Prairie United Church members appreciate the support the community has given them over the years.

The church building on Pleasantview Drive was built by community members and was used by many families and community groups.

Since the sale of the building, the congregation has donated funds annually to local charities.

The original High Prairie United Church building was constructed in 1926 and was relocated in 1985 to the Pioneer Threshermans Association site in Triangle where it still stands.