6) Whitemouth (Whiteshell) Baptist Church

Whitemouth (Whiteshell) Baptist Church

 
 Listen to recorded audio by clicking the audio button on the left.

In 1897 a group of German Baptist families came from Vohylnia, Russia to Winnipeg. From there they moved to Whitemouth, where they took up farming, bringing with them their customs and religion. The government at the time, gave homesteads a very reasonable price, if one wanted to work. All that sounds easy now, but all they had then was a horse or ox, an axe and a whole lot of muscle. The need for fellowship and worship arouse as more moved to the area. The first services were held in private homes as early as 1897. Soon their homes were not large enough, so they decided to build a church. The church was built between Whitemouth and River Hills. The first Baptist church was built here in 1906 on donated land from Gottlieb Knopf. The project was spearheaded by the church's first pastor, with 57 church members. Stables were built to shelter the horses, and a well was dug. In 1904, the church was finished and dedicated. The original bible cost $6.00. The church cemetery was located one mile to the south, near Oldenburg. The church parsonage was built in River Hills in 1952 at this site.

A new, much larger church was erected in 1961 in Seven Sisters, at the junction of highways 307 and 408. Since it was now in the Whiteshell area, they changed the name to Whiteshell Baptist Church (formally called Whitemouth Baptist Church). The church was badly damaged in a fire on July 4, 2010. A fire investigator said the fire started in a kitchen and utility room, then began to spread to the sanctuary. Shortly after a new church was built. The old church building was sold to the neighboring Hutterite colony for use as their church. The year 2006 marked their 100-year celebration!

The Whiteshell Baptist Church’s Cemetery is located just down the road from this driving tour site. You can head south approximately 1 mile from this site to view the cemetery.

Additional Details

Civic Number: N/A  Click HERE for coordinates l  Cemetery: 69069 PR 408    l   Amenities on Site: N/A   l   Building on Site: No; cemetery located to the South of site.

Original Whitemouth (Whiteshell) Baptist Church

Damage from fire in 2010. Photo courtesy of CTV News.

Whiteshell Baptist Cemetery Gates. *Photo
courtesy of Gordon Goldsborough*

Current Whiteshell Baptist Church