Work is under way to give the Hillburn Church a facelift.
The Hillburn Church was built in 1899, and was closed due to lack of members and financial difficulties as people left the district in 1960, explains Olivia Kelly, manager of the Rocanville & District Museum.
“The Hillburn Church was originally the first Methodist Church. Later, around 1907, the Hillburn Presbyterians and Methodists joined forces,” she wrote.
The Hillburn Church was moved to the Rocanville Museum on Dec. 4, 1974.
“This 120-year-old church has remained a staple building on the Rocanville Museum grounds for over 45 years,” said Kelly, adding for those who would like to read more on the history of the Hillburn Church and the Rocanville area, Rocanville and District History Books are available for purchase at the Rocanville Town Office and the Rocanville Museum.
“The Hillburn Church was repainted a little over 25 years ago by volunteers at the museum,” she said. “The volunteers determined the original colours of the Hillburn Church to be a sunny yellow with a brown-orange trim.
This summer the employees of the Rocanville Museum are working to give the Hillburn Church a much-needed face lift.
Similar colours to those previously used are being put onto the church. The Borderland Co-op has supplied the majority of the paint for the church, as well as some paint for a few smaller projects.
“Some of our fantastic volunteers have helped with building new battlements for the top of the church tower as the previous ones had almost completely rotted away,” said Kelly.
“With the help of the Borderland Co-op, the front face of the Hillburn Church has already been completely painted, as well as some other patches on the back of the church and the new battlements. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, generous businesses such as Borderland o-op, hardworking employees, and the visitors that come to the Rocanville Museum every summer. Thanks to them the local history of the Rocanville area will continue to live on at the Rocanville Museum.”
The Rocanville Museum is open every Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 7pm, and people can visit any time to see the painting progress on the Hillburn Church.
“We have many family friendly events going on at the museum this summer that would be great opportunities to come and visit the Hillburn Church,” said Jamie MacLeod, president of the Rocanville & District Museum.
On August 16th from 11am to 1pm the Rocanville Museum will be hosting Family Fun Day, with Royal Canadian Legion Branch #020 hosting a BBQ lunch. Regional KidsFirst is going to be visiting and will have lots of fun activities for 0-5 year olds.
Karen Holloway will be on site with ‘Friends of the Enchanted Forest’ and the museum will be fun for the whole family.
On September 14th you can see the Hillburn Church in its’ restored glory at our annual Museum Day. At Museum Day there is music, vendors at the market, a threshing demonstration, pancake breakfast, beef supper, and various agricultural demonstrations.
“We have a multitude of other events being planned for the summer at the Rocanville Museum, be sure to keep an eye out for them and for progress on the Hillburn Church by watching for us on Facebook, Twitter @RocanvilleMuseum or Instagram @rocanvillemuseum,” said MacLeod.
