Insinger - Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost Greek Orthodox Church, located in Insinger, Saskatchewan, was built in 1942. Over time, the congregation likely disbanded due to declining numbers. As the population of Insinger has dwindled, the town itself has taken on the character of a ghost town. The region, historically settled by many Ukrainian immigrants, is known for its numerous domed churches that reflect this cultural heritage.  

When we first began photographing this church, it was securely boarded up. Its location along the highway made it easy to keep an eye on. For years, it remained sealed and untouched—free from vandalism—until that changed. One day, the back door was kicked in, and not long after, the front door followed. The interior was soon vandalized and damaged by both people and wildlife. With broken windows and open doors, the church was left exposed to the elements and began to deteriorate.

Below are three sets of photographs documenting its decline. The first visit took place in 2009, while it was sealed up, no boards, just locked and untouched. The second was from a week after the back door was breached. At that time, the church was only slightly vandalized and still contained many original features—icons, pews, and other details remained intact. On our return a couple of years later, the door was gone, as were the icons and pews. Vandalism had taken its toll. From what we've seen and heard since, the interior is now heavily graffitied and nearly destroyed.