In the late 1870s and early 1880s the valley of the Rapid River (now Little Saskatchewan) became home for the first white settlers.
In 1872 the Dominion Government granted a tract of land to John Ralston “on which to bring in and establish settlers.” The first colonists arrived in 1874. Several others arrived later, together with missionaries.
Services of the Church of England were at the home of J. G. Whellams. also the place of worship for the Anglicans.
By 1880 it became necessary to appoint a resident priest. resulting in recordings of baptisms and marriages from January 1880 on by Rev. J. B. Sargent, Rev. Lorenso Shepherd and Rev. George Turnbull.
Timber for the church was floated down the river and processed in Dr. MacIntosh’s sawmill. The church was completed in the fall of 1881.
At a meeting in 1878 a name for the area was considered. Saskatchewan City was proposed, and rejected as being too long. However, since Saskatchewan means swiftly flowing river in Cree the name Rapid City was adopted. Rapid City was incorporated as a town on June 9, 1883.
The first baptism in the Parish was of George Norman Hindson, son of John George and Elizabeth Hindson, on August 1st 1880. The first wedding in the Parish was of Charles Freeman and Sarah Cousins on November 9, 1880. The first wedding in the church was of J. H. Priestley and Thursa Mary Pascoe on June 17, 1882. The first funeral was of the infant daughter of Thomas and Mrs McClune on May 27,c 1880.
The Parish at the time included Tanner’s Crossing (Minnedosa), Marney (Strathclair), Shoal Lake, Roseville (Rivers) and Moore Park. Brandon did not exist then.
In 1906 the church was enlarged and beautified with the addition of a chancel and a vestry, mainly through the efforts of J. G. Hindson and G. W. Milner and the support of the vestry and congregation.
Donations to the church over the years included the cross (Mrs. Fred Pike), Bishop’s Chair (George Lindsay), Chancel Chair (Mrs. A. McIlvride), altar vases (Mrs. Sarah East), Communion Silver and Alms Basin (Mrs. George Balkwill), Communion Bread Box and Baptismal Font (Mrs. E. S. Gardiner) and the. pulpit (Hindson family).
The church was in active use until the mid 2000s when the Anglican dioceses could no longer provide the funding. It remained open however until it fell into disrepair. Due to extensive vandalism in recent years the intent had been to demolish the church this year. But there are moves afoot to keep it standing as a church.
• Photographed in 1991.