I recently published a blog on the Alberta “ghost town” of Dorothy. The town was never large and now is nearly completely abandoned, with a number of interesting old buildings to see and explore.
Within the town are two small churches which are in a remarkably good state of preservation, of the type typical of small Canadian towns. One is a Catholic Church, and the other is a Protestant (United) Church. Surprising that a community of less than 100 residents (at its peak) could support two churches, but it did.
The two churches sit beside each other at the edge of town, the badlands right behind them. Both churches were renovated about 15 years ago so they are in a fairly good state of repair. I’m told that a rare marriage ceremony is celebrated in these churches, but that they are not otherwise used.
1) The Catholic Church
Featured in the top photo, this church was originally a school house. When the school closed in the 1930s, the building was brought to Dorothy and converted into a church, opening in the mid 1940s. It was last used in 1967 after which it was decommissioned.
The door was open when I visited so I explored the interior. A nice simple church with attractive paneling. Winters in Alberta can get very cold, and a central wood burning stove provided heat.
(Confessional)
2) The United Church
The United Church was formerly a house which began to hold services in the early 1930s. Formal church services ended in the 1960s.
The sanctuary is simple. There is a nice old organ and the pews are in a good state of repair.
(side hall of the United Church)
