Historic Sites of Manitoba: Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, Grotto, and Cemetery (Cooks Creek, RM of Springfield)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

Construction of this Ukrainian Catholic church in the Rural Municipality of Springfield began in 1930, designed by priest-architect Philip Ruh, and it was consecreated 22 years later. Reverend Ruh worked alongside his congregation in building the largest of his remaining creations in Manitoba. He also supervised construction of the adjacent Grotto, a representation in concrete of the Grotto at Lourdes, France. Ruh died before its completion and is buried in a nearby cemetery. The church, a nationally and provincially designated historic site, was renovated as part of the Manitoba Prairie Churches Project.

Clerics

Period	Cleric
1978-1989	John Sholdak (1928-2004)

Photos & Coordinates

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (no date) by Henry Kalen Source: Archives of Manitoba (MHS 1979 Photo Exhibit) Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (March 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Aerial view of Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception and its grotto (June 2019) Source: George Penner Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (July 2019) Source: Rose Kuzina Interior of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (September 2015) Source: George Penner Grotto at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (July 2019) Source: Rose Kuzina Immaculate Conception Cemetery (October 2010) Source: Peter McLure Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.00392, W96.77323 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Plaques for Persons, Events and Sites of National Historic Significance

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Prairie Churches Project / Manitoba Prairie Icons Project

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pine Ridge Cemetery (Birds Hill Provincial Park, RM of Springfield)

Memorable Manitobans: Philip Ruh (1883-1962)

Sources:

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society, including a searchable online database available to members at the MGS Manitoba Name Index (MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites, revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception Cooks Creek, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

Immaculate Conception Cook’s Creek Cemetery, Waymarking.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Rose Kuzina, Peter McLure, and George Penner.

Page revised: 25 August 2022

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