Around the year 1900, a wave of Ukrainian pioneers arrived in Canada, many of whom settled in the Rural Municipality of Sliding Hills, Saskatchewan. Among their first priorities was the establishment of places of worship, essential for maintaining their spiritual and cultural traditions. In keeping with similar efforts throughout the region, these settlers began planning the construction of an Orthodox Christian temple as soon as they arrived.
The community was officially organized in 1900, and by 1902–1903, a small Orthodox temple had been built using locally available logs. According to oral tradition, this temple was one of five being constructed in the area at that time. Nearby, a log bell-house was erected in the same fashion. Both structures rested on stone foundations, with log walls filled and coated with mud, then finished with whitewashed plaster. This humble but effective construction reflected both the limited resources and the resilience of the settlers.
This first temple, the Holy Ascension (also known as Kaplychka), served the spiritual needs of the community. However, over time, the high water table at the original site caused difficulties for the cemetery, prompting the community to relocate. By 1924–1925, they had moved to a new site and constructed a larger church, St. Michael’s - Veregin, using the same construction techniques. Logs were transported from Stenen, as local trees were too small for the task. Despite the move, the original and new sites remained part of the same parish, uniting the congregation in faith and purpose.
The Holy Ascension Temple has not been in use for more than fifty years, with the last recorded burial dating back to the 1940s. Today, its deteriorating structures are among the oldest remaining log-constructed Orthodox churches in Saskatchewan. The buildings, though crumbling, still bear traces of their original craftsmanship—chinking of mud and straw, remnants of white stucco, and the characteristic notched log construction. A metal roof, maintained over the years, has helped preserve the temple’s basic structure, even though it is no longer usable.
This historic site stands as a testament to the perseverance and faith of the early Ukrainian settlers who built it. Although it looks abandoned, it is still cared for by the community with the occasional cleanup of the land around it. It symbolizes their effort to build a new life in Canada while remaining deeply connected to their Orthodox Christian roots and cultural heritage. The Holy Ascension Temple is reputed to be the oldest Orthodox Christian temple in Saskatchewan, offering a rare glimpse into the spiritual and architectural legacy of Saskatchewan's early immigrant communities.
