One of Canada’s oldest churches has been restored after receiving grant aid from the provincial and federal governments.

The Revd Robert Hunt, founder of the Stanley Mission, began building Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Saskatchewan, in 1854, using local timber alongside hardware and stained glass that he had brought from England.

The Carpenter Gothic style building, on the banks of the Churchill River, is the oldest building in Saskatchewan, part of the Western Provinces, and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1970; and a provincially registered historic site in 1981.

It is not the seat of a bishop, but is often referred to as a cathedral because of its impressive size, its tall central nave and elaborate spire.

In 2011, a report indicated that “critical roof and foundation repairs” were “essential to the building’s preservation.” That work has now been completed following combined federal and provincial government grants of 330,000 Canadian dollars.

“For more than 150 years, Holy Trinity Anglican Church has been a treasured place of worship and a significant heritage asset for our province,” the local culture minister, Kevin Doherty, said.  “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest in this property and is appreciative of the federal government’s contribution.  Part of our government’s mandate is to conserve Saskatchewan’s natural and cultural resources through provincial parks.  In addition to teaching us about Saskatchewan’s history, this church attracts visitors to Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.”

Canada’s environment minister, Leona Aglukkaq, said that “our national historic sites are vital to our history, our identity as Canadians, and our tourism industry.  By investing in them and by building lasting relationships with the community groups that operate them, we ensure that they will continue to help support local economies and encourage more Canadians to explore and discover our national heritage.”

The work has been welcomed by the local MP Rob Clarke, who said: “Our government has taken a leadership role in the protection and promotion of Canada's invaluable and irreplaceable heritage such as the Holy Trinity Church National Historic Site. This funding will ensure the preservation of one of the Boreal Forest’s most treasured national historic sites for future generations and help foster a healthy local economy and thriving tourism industry.”