Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia
Women of Aspenland: Images from central Alberta See more of the Virtual Museum of Canada
English / FrançaisHomeThe ProjectSearchSitemapContactAbout UsEdukits

The Women
Social Landscape
The Region

Search for Aspenland Artifacts
 
Visit Alberta Source!
 
 
Heritage Community Foundation.


Raising the Tabernacle

by David Ridley

|  Page 2  |  

April 1953

Craining necks and shivering in 'the noble old tabernacle': Choir performing in old building, c. 1950THREE WAYS TO HELP...
By Furnishing a Rafter
Special rafters built "according to plan" for our new tabernacle cost about $1,200 each.

Estimated Construction Cost this Summer:
$75, 000

August 1953

BUILDING... is still hampered by frequent heavy rains, and by non-arrival of the trusses for the Tabernacle roof. With the arrival of the pillars, the walls are going up steadily. If the roof cannot be put on, we shall have to wear hats during the services in the winter!

September 1953

Arched beams being put in place during construction of the new Tabernacle, Summer 1953.BUILDING... no need for hats after all. The new tabernacle is now fully roofed over. We praise God that the 11 arches were raised and set in place without accident. Each unit, when fully assembled, weighs three tons. Now the men are busy completing the work, seeking to have the tabernacle usable by the time school starts, but from now on crews will be depleted with men taking holidays in rotation...

PRAIRIE-GRAMS

The first Sunday services were held in our new tabernacle on October 11. On the 25th we held a preliminary dedication service, in the course of which Mr. Sanford Hanson, as head of the building department, gave this report:

With mixed feelings we saw the old tabernacle collapse to the ground this spring, in a helpless and hopeless pile of old lumber and rubble- thus signifying its days of usefulness had forever come to an end. It illustrated in a new way to us that we too must some day put off this old tabernacle, as Peter mentioned in his epistle.

Many and precious had been the sights its crude rafters and unfinished walls had witnessed, sights which the angels rejoiced to see. We could but turn from the dismal scene with a lump in our throat for the passing of this old soul trap.

On the other hand, we faced the future with expectation of a bigger and better building. No longer were we to be plagued with the need of playing peekaboo around defiant posts, or craning weary necks in hope of catching a glimpse of the preacher- not to mention the bliss of forever forgetting stuffy balconies and drafty windows. All these deficiencies, our blueprints declared, would be forever done away with. Hence with hope and vision we began the tremendous task of building that which we are now enjoying and dedicating to God's glory today.

Preparing to receive revelation: interior of the New Tabernacle, c. 1970sAlmost from the beginning we were beset by most inclement weather. Our insurmountable task (faced by a mere handful of men) became more hopeless, it seemed, as the weeks went by, until we felt like Paul in II Corinthians 4:8: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair"- though I am not so sure about the despair part! The job was so big, the crew so small, the weather so terrible, and time so limited. God, however, was with us through it all; and by means of winch truck and tractor, wading boots, a dugout to drain off the water, and willing hands, we were able to pour the foundation and erect the walls in readiness for the rafters, which in God's mercy arrived almost at the hour they were needed. From that time on everything seemed in our favour and we went forward at full speed. Hence, by God's grace, we were able to complete it to its present day condition. However, there is still much to be done as you can readily see.

[<<previous] [continue>>]

 

 

  
Back
Top

Copyright © 2002 Heritage Community Foundation All Rights Reserved


Albertasource.ca | Contact Us | Partnerships
            For more on women and Western settlement, visit Peel’s Prairie Provinces.
Copyright © Heritage Communty Foundation All Rights Reserved