Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Church

Most commonly known as Sandhills Church, which is locate of pt NW 02-59-22-W4 near the Hamlet of Egremont.

The site was designated as a Registered Historic Site in 2004 then as a Municipal Historic Resource in 2015.

The Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Church is particularly notable because it was designed in the Byzantine tradition for the liturgical practices in a prairie community.  The interior is a good example of the way in which spaces were arranged to enhance devotion and spiritual feelings.  The cruciform plan flows from the nave to the altar, the open area of the nave and up into the vertical spaces leading to the dome which is illuminated by the four pastel colored windows and highly decorated with a ceiling of clouds and light blue sky.

The primary heritage value of this church lies on the two corner structures which stand proud, mimicking corner towers of ancient Byzantine Basilica of Europe.  Each of these square towers is topped with an octagonal drum and a small dome which supports a wrought iron Roman Cross with trefoil ends.  A large high drum rises from the intersection of the roofs over the nave and supports a high stunning dome which meets at the apex where it is assembled into a lantern topped with a another small onion-shaped dome that supports a third wrought iron Roman Cross;  all three being forged by Kazimir Olchowy. One of the original crosses used was saved from the original church when it burned.

The real treasure of the Church is the interior painting which took six months to complete and was done by Walter Paschak from Winnipeg.  

The church is also significant for its historical associations within its surrounding rural area. The current church is built upon the original location of the original church. The original church was established about 1917, then in 1939 the congregation moved the original church so a new church could be constructed on the exact site, surrounded by the native growth of pine and spruce trees. The original church continued to serve the community after the new church was built in 1944 as a food preparation area until 1966. The church was sold and moved off the land in 1976 and soon after burned; the only item they were able to salvage was the original cross forged by Kazimir Olchowy.  For over one hundred years, the location of this church has been open to the community and continues to function and be maintained by an active congregation.