PAINTING

Description: GOLD WOOD FRAME. OFF-WHITE MATTE. PAINTING IS OF A BRICK CHURCH WITH A PLAQUE ON THE FRONT THAT READS "1887". THE CHURCH ITSELF IS ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS SURROUNDED BY BARE TREES. ON THE FRONT OF THE GLASS IS A BROWN PLASTIC TAG EMBOSSED WITH "R.C. CHURCH 1 AVE 8 ST. SO.". THE ARTIST HAS SIGNED THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER OF PAINTING, "S. MOE". THE BACK OF THE FRAME IS LINED WITH CHRISTMAS PAPER, THAT IS INSIDE OUT. "307" IS WRITTEN ON BACK OF PAPER IN BLACK FELT MARKER. THERE IS ALSO A BLACK PLASTIC TAG STUCK ON PAPER EMBOSSED WITH "1987.110". HAS A WIRE ON BACK ATTACHED TO TWO METAL HOOKS IN FRAME, FOR HANGING.

History: SEE P19990035001-GA FOR DONOR HISTORY. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS. THE FOLLOWING BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH WAS DEVELOPED WITH INFORMATION FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE JUNE 12, 1909 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD AND A GLOBAL NEWS REPORT FROM SEPTEMBER 27, 2013. THE CORNERSTONE OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, THE FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LETHBRIDGE, WAS LAID AT 1ST AVENUE AND 8TH STREET SOUTH BY FATHER LEONARD VAN TIGHEM IN 1887, AND THE CHURCH OPENED ON AUGUST 4 OF THAT YEAR. IN 1888 VAN TIGHEM WAS PERMANENTLY MOVED FROM THE CHURCH IN FORT MACLEOD TO ST. PATRICK'S, WHERE HE WAS THE PRIEST UNTIL 1909 WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE STRATHCONA MISSION IN EDMONTON. IN 1952 A NEW CHURCH BUILDING AT 4TH AVENUE AND 9TH STREET SOUTH WAS COMPLETED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF FATHER WILFRED MALLOY. THE PARISH OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY OUT OF THIS NEW BUILDING FOR NEARLY SIXTY YEARS BEFORE BISHOP FREDERICK HENRY OF THE DIOCESE OF CALGARY DECIDED TO CLOSE THE CHURCH ON AUGUST 11, 2011, WITH THE INTENTION OF COMBINING THE THREE SOUTH LETHBRIDGE PARISHES INTO ONE THAT WOULD BE HOUSED IN A NEWLY-BUILT CHURCH. THE CLOSURE WAS MET WITH OUTCRY FROM PARISHIONERS AND AT THE TIME OF THIS SURVEY THE NEW CHURCH PROJECT WAS STALLED. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARDCOPIES OF SOURCE ARTICLES.