The church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a historic place of worship that reflects the traditions and determination of early Ukrainian settlers on the Saskatchewan prairies. Ukrainian settlement in the area began between 1907 and 1909, with many families arriving from the Horodenka and Buchach regions of what was then part of Eastern Europe. Before their own parish was established, these settlers often attended services at neighbouring communities.
The parish’s first gathering place, built in 1920, was a log hall, which was adapted the following year to serve as a church. This building functioned as the parish church until 1931, when the congregation began constructing a larger and more permanent place of worship. Once the new church was completed, the original building was converted back into a parish hall known as Prosvita.
The present church is a wood-frame cruciform structure that features a gable roof and a striking central octagonal dome, topped with a cupola and cross. The exterior and interior walls are finished with wood siding, while the rectangular windows are crowned with graceful arched tops. Like many traditional churches, the building is oriented west to east.
Visitors enter through a small porch that leads directly into the nave. Inside, a stairway near the entrance leads to a choir loft overlooking the west end of the nave. The sanctuary at the east end includes an adjoining porch that serves as a sacristy, while another small porch with a lean-to roof provides access to the church basement.
The interior of the church is notable for its decorative artwork and murals, created between 1936 and 1938. The large central dome dominates the interior space, supported by arcades that form the vaulted ceiling of the cruciform layout.
Simple wooden floors and pews provide seating for approximately 80 people, reflecting the modest but functional design typical of rural prairie churches. The building once had a central oil heating system, though after flooding damaged the system, the church began using a wood-burning heater for warmth.
Like many prairie churches of the era, the building was constructed through voluntary labour and donations from parishioners. The project cost approximately $2,500, and the five-acre church and cemetery site was also purchased through collective community contributions.
Beside the church stands a log belfry. The bell it holds was donated in 1935, adding another historic element to the site. South of the church lies the parish cemetery, where generations of community members have been laid to rest. An earlier parish hall once stood on the grounds as well, though it was dismantled in 1949.
Today, the Transfiguration of Our Lord Church remains a meaningful landmark, reflecting the enduring faith, culture, and cooperative spirit of the Ukrainian settlers who helped shape this prairie community. “Bobulynci”, name of Ukrainian origin originating from the village of Bobylynci in the Buchach county of Ukraine, whence came the first Ukrainian settlers in this area.
