Save "The Blasted Church"
Donation protected
The Okanagan Falls United Church (aka The Blasted Church) needs financial support to maintain the financial stability of the church. We need $15,000 to keep this charming little country church in our community.
This building, before it was our church, was part of the mining community of Fairview near Oliver, B.C. It was built in 1897, and brought to Okanagan Falls in 1929. This move, which was accomplished in part by the judicious use of dynamite, led to the related title of “The Blasted Church.” The local winery of the same name also derived from the story of the move. Our church is now 119 years old. Regular services are held every Sunday for a small but loyal congregation. We are seeking $15,000 to help us maintain the financial viability of the church which shelters other treasures such as the pews. These were originally built in Fairview for a visit in 1902 by the Canadian poet E. Pauline Johnson. They were made from the wood of one giant Okanagan yellow pine. The ceiling and lower walls of the interior are the original highly polished pine board. This church has been the “starter building” for many other denominations over the years as congregations shared the building until they had one of their own. There are other stories about items in the church that reflect the history of the community and the character and determination of the pioneers who created and maintained a truly country church, elegant in its simplicity.
Would you like to know more about our church? Visit our web site at www.okfallsunited.ca
This building, before it was our church, was part of the mining community of Fairview near Oliver, B.C. It was built in 1897, and brought to Okanagan Falls in 1929. This move, which was accomplished in part by the judicious use of dynamite, led to the related title of “The Blasted Church.” The local winery of the same name also derived from the story of the move. Our church is now 119 years old. Regular services are held every Sunday for a small but loyal congregation. We are seeking $15,000 to help us maintain the financial viability of the church which shelters other treasures such as the pews. These were originally built in Fairview for a visit in 1902 by the Canadian poet E. Pauline Johnson. They were made from the wood of one giant Okanagan yellow pine. The ceiling and lower walls of the interior are the original highly polished pine board. This church has been the “starter building” for many other denominations over the years as congregations shared the building until they had one of their own. There are other stories about items in the church that reflect the history of the community and the character and determination of the pioneers who created and maintained a truly country church, elegant in its simplicity.
Would you like to know more about our church? Visit our web site at www.okfallsunited.ca
Organizer
Bob Shanks
Organizer
Okanagan Falls, BC
