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It Takes a Community
Posted October 2025 | Bob Turner
“It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known Nigerian proverb. Well, in Grand Marais, you can see proof that it takes a community to re-master, renovate, and renew a church, specifically St. Jude’s Anglican Church, which since its beginnings as a Métis church in 1896, has been a focal point of the community.
All photo credits in this blog belong to the Manitoba Historical Society. Click on the images to check out their page!
The beginning:
The original church was a testament to the generosity, dedication, and sense of community of the Métis residents. Two Métis bothers-in-law - George Rupert and Alex Knott – donated the land for the church from a portion of their scrip. Scrip was a document issued by the Canadian government, entitling Métis residents to an allotment of land in the Prairies. In 1896, Alex Knott’s mother was the first person buried in this now historic cemetery.
Five volunteers from the area constructed the building from hand-sawn black poplar logs, and the pews were built by Jim Raven, a carpenter from Scanterbury, 25 km away. The bell was obtained by St. Jude’s in 1913/14 from a school that had received the bell from a Winnipeg fire hall, and it was hung in the steeple above the small porch entrance to the log building.
A second, and larger porch was built in the 1930’s, including a belfry for the bell. The chancel (the area for the clergy and choir) and two vestry rooms (where clergy and choir dress for the service) were added to the front in 1931. The stained-glass window was donated by Betty Linklater, the first Women’s Auxiliary President of St. Jude’s.
Then, in 1964, the congregation moved to a new facility along Highway #12, not far from Grand Beach, which included living quarters for the minister and his family. The Old St. Jude’s Church sat deserted.
Other than a brief spell as a community museum from 1970-73, the building sat empty and unused for almost 40 years. By 2004, its future seemed bleak: demolition lurked on the horizon.
Friends to the rescue:
A group of families and friends with strong attachment to this iconic piece of history, requested that the Rural Municipality of St. Clements step in, and to the credit of the councillors of the time, they did. In April 2016, the R.M. of St. Clements was registered as owner on the title of Old St. Jude’s, guaranteeing the stability the group was seeking. In July 2018, the site was declared a Municipal Heritage site. The old church had finally gained the respect it so richly deserved.
This group of advocates for the church, who called themselves “Friends of Old St. Jude’s”, with the help of the Métis local, gave the building a water-tight roof, and a chance of a future. Through aggressive campaigning, and despite the Covid pandemic making the task more difficult, “Friends” raised substantial funds to refit the main building and porch.
Friends of Old St. Jude’s worked diligently raising funds, and obtaining provincial and foundation grants, a well as donations from many other groups and individuals. Critical financial support was received from The Province of Manitoba, The Selkirk and District Foundation, and the Manitoba Métis Federation.
It is worth noting that since Friends of Old St. Jude’s inception, and incorporation in 2010:
“The vision has been to restore the structure of Old St. Jude’s Church (1896) and honour its past. To create a safe and accessible venue for research, study, and community events.”
“The mission is to facilitate the restoration of this landmark building. To demonstrate responsible stewardship and maintain a spirit of caring and a commitment to community engagement.”
The fruits of their labour:
What you see today is proof, in my opinion, that the vision has been attained, and the mission is well on its way to being accomplished.
In addition to reshingling the roof and repainting the exterior, the attractive replica of the original vestibule resembles the small porch and steeple just as they looked back in the 1930’s.
In the words of Laura McCombe, Project Manager and former Director of Friends of Old St. Jude’s: “In its entirety, the building and its longevity are a testament to the creative use of local materials and of the determination of a small, isolated community of settlers and their Métis hosts in what is today the centre of East Beaches.”
The church has not been used as a church for nearly half of its existence, and yet it remains, as described in the 2025 East Beaches Cottage Guide, “A Forever Place”.
A celebration of the resilience and sense of community - which Old St. Jude’s Heritage Site represents - was held in August 2025, when the building was reopened to the public. One of the attractions for the visitors was the original pump organ, still playable, as demonstrated during the celebration. I was fortunate to be one of the 100-plus people there for the celebration, and it was a fitting tribute to the hard-working, dedicated “community which raised a church”, a community of Friends.
St. Jude’s Anglican Church and Cemetery at the corner of Grey Avenue and Sunset Avenue in Grand Marais, is one more attraction that proves:
“Whatever the season, there’s always a reason,”
“To spend time in Red River North”.
