Yesterday Melody and I went and checked out the Father Lacombe Chapel in St. Albert. Father Albert Lacombe convinced the right people that a new mission was needed in this area.
So in April of 1861 he came with three other men and built this chapel.It would be the centre of the mission for the next decade.
The mission became even more important when Bishop Vital Grandin moved his headquarters to St. Albert in 1868.
So the little chapel became a cathedral for one year until a new one was built. Once the new church opened the little chapel was no longer used.
It then became the resident for the Sisters while the convent was being built.
For a while it was used as a garage for the Bishop's car. It was at some point also used as a chicken scoop.
In 1977 it was declared a historic site and was restored.
It is the oldest building in the Province of Alberta
Join me as l take you on a tour of the chapel and Mission Hill.
Oh my! A chicken coop and a garage- dare I say, "How disrespectful!"? But then I suppose they were just being practical. After all God cannot be contained in a building and He can also be worshipped anywhere, right? I'm glad it's now a part of history!
Ian
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