While we work on collecting details, roughly around 4 am (May 22) Cochrane RCMP and Exshaw Fire Services responded to a fire which devastated the Old McDougall Church in Morley, Alberta.

On Highway 1A between Banff and Cochrane an old church stood the test of time not only as place of worship but represented an incredible amount of history in Southern Alberta.

The McDougall Church built in 1875 by Reverend George McDougall was the heart of Southern Alberta's first pioneer settlement, Morleyville. It had been a long time desire for McDougall to open a mission between Stoney Nakoda and Blackfoot people and so the Morley mission was created to serve the Aboriginal people, and provide an opportunity to establish a more permanent relationship with the Blackfoot Nation. The church stood as a powerful reminder of Western Heritage and values.

The McDougall Church was restored in 1952 and named an historic site by both the United Church of Canada and the Alberta Government in 1979.

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