St George’s Turner Valley

Here’s a look at the second of three little country churches belonging to Meota Parish, all located a short distance from each other, a bit south of Calgary. There’s St James in Priddis, Christ Church out in the country near Millarville and this visit has us taking in St George’s in Turner Valley. Each has its own unique beauty, charm and character. For us camera jockeys into historic buildings they’re an absolute delight to photograph and we’re so happy to have been allowed the privilege to do so. Count us lucky.

It’s summer 2019 (I know!), it’s twilight, our favourite time of the day, there’s nary a sound on the warm breeze, the camera’s primed, we’re primed. Yes, it’s the makings of a great outing. Churches, to those unfamiliar to this website, are one of our most inspiring and favourite subjects. They’re without exception always photogenic and have such great stories to tell. We can’t really explain it but maybe if you read on (and view the photos) our passion will be made more clear.

St George’s is well travelled! It was built around 1907-1908 (sources differ slightly) at a crossroad called Glady’s Ridge sort of near Okotoks. Due to declining attendance, it was moved in 1923 to Blackie, a little community east of High River. Finally, in 1949 (declining attendance again?) it made the journey to Turner Valley, where it presently stands, on land donated by a petroleum firm (the community is dead centre of a big gas field).

The structure is simple in form and every bit the archetypal small town church. You know, with a steeply pitched gable roof and all. Inside, it’s pleasing wood tones and in back, there’s some gorgeous stained glass. Some quick ciphering tells us they can seat maybe fifty or so people.

There is no steeple and instead the bell sits atop a tall metal framework beside the building. We’ve seen this set up before at another church or two in the general area.

They have services every week and on looking around inside and out, it’s made clear that St George’s is dearly cherished. It’s so beautiful and well kept.

Beside the church there’s a hall for other uses. In fact, as we photographed a meeting was going on there, so we made sure not to be a distraction.

The little church has seen the worst of times (this year’s in the running), and the best. Generation after generation, it’s a witness to wondrous celebration and heart wrenching sorrow. Weddings on the upbeat, the lose of a loved one on the down. It’s a place where emotions can be set free and sometimes the tears and joy appear together. Even in troubled times, however, the outlook is always positive at places like this. And isn’t that a step in the right direction…you listening 2020?

St George’s is in service of the Anglican faith, by the numbers the third largest religious group in the country with over a million and a half practitioners. The Anglican Church of Canada was formerly the Church of England in Canada, the change over happening in the 1950s.

Who is St George? How about we let Meota Parish fill you in. From their website: “George was Roman solider in the fourth century who was forced to practice his Christian faith in secret. The Roman authorities took harsh measures against any of their soldiers found to be Christian. George courageously declared his faith and despite Diocletian’s many attempts to convert him, George refused. Diocletian eventually ordered his death for failure to recant his Christian faith. In later centuries, George’s following spread westwards and George became the model of a perfect Christian warrior — just the sort of figure that appealed to medieval English kings when they placed their wars of conquest under his protection. That is how St. George came to be invoked as the Patron Saint of England. But another and far more widespread tradition has seen him as the pattern of what it means to be a Christian in the world — as an image of every Christian’s daily warfare against the forces of sin, ignorance, fear, and injustice.” There you go – said better than we ever could.

The name Meota is said to come from a Plains Cree word (Anglicized) speaking of a place that is well suited for camping, or generally good overall. The area in which they’re located, the transition zone where the prairies and mountains hook up, is certainly befitting of that name.

With this discovery, in a local history book, came a little skepticism though. This region was Blackfoot territory, with the Cree living more north easterly, making it a curious choice for a name in that respect. On further research however, we found a few folks from in and around a community called Meota Saskatchewan (in a region the Cree called home) came to the Turner Valley area some time ago, so this suggests a connection. Research, as always, is ongoing. We also found mention of local gas cooperative from long ago similarly using the Meota name, so it’s not unique to the church group. Interesting.

In years past the Parish had some other churches, including ones in nearby Black Diamond and Hartell.

Turner Valley was home to Canada’s first major petroleum discovery. Even today, the field is still being worked (an old plant nearby and a lame attempt at humour: Turner Valley Gave Us Gas!). The town was founded in 1930, rather late in the game, and today is home to about twenty five hundred folks. It’s still got a lot of small town charm thought. The breakfast place just around the corner away from St George’s is a yummy destination, by the way. Oil and gas and ranching/farming are big here, but in many ways it’s a bedroom community to Calgary.

Oh, and it’s one gateway into the wonderful wilderness recreation region that is Kananaskis County. We so love getting out in the woods and pass through the town all the time.

Up next, it’s Christ Church out in the country, the oldest of the group and of very interesting construction. Coming soon!

They’re saying…

”Off the Beaten Path, what a great resource for visitors to AB, SK and eastern BC. Such detailed info and photographs to back it up make the site invaluable for people planning a trip to western Canadian provinces of BC, AB and SK and wanting to do something different but interesting also! Thanks Connie and Chris” Jan Normandale.

The other two visited…
Christ Church Millarville.
St James Priddis.

Beautiful churches city & country…
St Norbert’s.
Hillhurst United Church.
Spaca Moskalyk Church.
Pleasington Lutheran Church.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: July, 2019.
Location(s): Turner Valley, AB
Article references and thanks: Reverend Gordon Pontifex & Meota Parish, Books – Foothills Echoes & In the Light of the Flares. History of Turner Valley Oilfields.

Welcome to St George’s.

It’s just over a century old…

…And is well travelled.

Its one of three belonging to Meota Parish.

A charming church in small town Alberta.