Fort Steele, British Columbia, flourished in the 1890s, and then began to decline when the railroad by-passed the town in 1898. Today Fort Steele is a Heritage Village in which visitors can experience what life was like in the 1890s. The Heritage Village includes restored buildings, replica buildings, and buildings which are allowed to decay naturally. The Fort Steele Heritage Village includes three churches.
St. John the Divine Anglican Church
Constructed in 1894, this building served as the first school, a public meeting hall, and a church for all the local denominations. A permanent vicar was appointed to the church in 1898. The Anglican church arose in England in 1534 when King Henry VIII announced that the English church would separate from Rome.
Presbyterian Church
This church was built in 1898 thanks to the Ladies Aid Society and other citizens of the town. Presbyterian churches, a denomination which arose in Scotland in the sixteenth century, involve all church members in the governance of the church. Philip Wilkinson, in his book Religions, reports:
“This form of Protestantism is based on an interpretation of how the New Testament describes the structure of the first Christian churches.”
Shown above is an old fire extinguisher hanging on the wall next to the door.
St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church
This church opened in 1897. However, Catholic missionaries had already been active in the area for many years and had constructed the St. Eugene Mission and School on the St. Mary’s Reservation. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest and oldest of the Christian churches.
Museums 101
Museums have an important role in preserving our heritage and providing education about it. Museums 101 is a photo tour of various museum displays. More from this series:
Museums 101: The Fort Steele Blacksmith Shop (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Nevada City Blacksmith Shop (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Hulda Klager Farmhouse (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Historic Auburn (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: White River Valley Museum
Museums 101: Dalles City Street Scene (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Deschutes Historical Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum (Photo Diary)
