The church was another important institution for grain growers. The variety of churches Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Mormon and many others was remarkable. The differences were reflected in architecture and in the varying roles churches played in the rural communities. Pictured here on the left is a Greek Catholic church in Hafford, Saskatchewan. Its ornate cupola may be compared to the stark simplicity of the Church of England church in Fairlight, Saskatchewan, shown on the right. Partly because of the emphasis on missionary activities by churches on the prairies during the nineteenth century and partly because of the difficulties of the settlement period, churches were oriented towards community action. Many Catholic priests were involved in social and economic activities, while many Protestant ministers were influenced by the Social Gospel. Consequently, many of the grain growers' organizations were characterized by a degree of religious fervour, and many of their leaders, such as Henry Wise Wood and George Chipman, were active in church affairs. Concern about "moral" issues, for example prohibition, was particularly evident in such women's groups as the women's auxiliaries of the grain growers organizations, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and the Women's Institutes.
Courtesy: Public Archives of Canada (PA-88503/PA-29633)
