Rundle's Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rundle's Mission |
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| Type | Methodist Mission |
| Location | Thorsby, Alberta, Canada |
| Established | 1847 |
| Founder | Robert Rundle |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | "Seeking the story of Mission Beach" |
Rundle's Mission was a special place set up in 1847. It was built by a Christian missionary named Robert Rundle. The mission was located by Pigeon Lake in Thorsby, Alberta, Canada. At the mission, Rundle taught the local Cree people about Christianity and farming. He did not let big companies or the government tell him how to work with the First Peoples.
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The Mission's Beginning
In the mid-1800s, Pigeon Lake was a popular meeting spot. First Nations people gathered there. Christian missionaries also came, hoping to teach about their faith.
Robert Rundle had been working near Fort Edmonton since 1840. In 1847, he got permission to build a mission at Pigeon Lake. This permission came from the Hudson's Bay Company and the Wesleyan Missionary Society.
Working with First Nations
Rundle first focused on the Assiniboine people. Later, he began to work mainly with the Cree. He helped translate Christian hymns and parts of the biblical scriptures into the Cree language. This made it easier for the Cree people to understand.
There was also a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the lake. The mission also helped with some farming projects. However, Rundle saw his job as helping people, not just working for the company or government.
He wanted to help the Aboriginal people survive. Many European settlers were moving into the area. The Hudson's Bay Company wanted him to open mission schools. Rundle looked for a good spot, but he chose not to build the school.
Why the Mission Closed
Robert Rundle left the mission and returned to England just one year later. He had a bad fall from his horse and hurt his arm badly. When his arm did not heal well, he decided to go home for better medical care.
After Rundle left, a follower named Benjamin Sinclair took charge. But the church was abandoned in 1850. Another missionary, Thomas Woolsey, reopened it for a short time after 1855. However, it was abandoned again. The land around the mission was not good for farming, which made it hard to keep the mission going.
Rundle's Mission Today
In 1948, Reverend Dr. Gerald Hutchinson moved to Pigeon Lake. He wondered why a local lake spot was called "Mission Beach." He spent the next 50 years researching the answer.
In 1965, Hutchinson's hard work was recognized. The site of Rundle's Mission was named a National Historic Monument. In 1997, a 2-acre (8,100 m2) area was also recognized. This area holds early mission buildings and native burial grounds. It is now called The Benjamin and Margaret Sinclair Provincial Historic Site.
Today, the Government of Alberta owns Rundle's Mission. A group called the Rundle's Mission Society manages it. In 2001, Museums Alberta gave Hutchinson a "Lifetime Achievement" award for his work.
Thanks to Hutchinson's efforts, Rundle's Mission now has a hand-built log lodge. There are also two bungalows and a special boardwalk. This boardwalk leads to a natural spring. The area also has a beach on the lake, called Mission Beach, and a nature reserve nearby.
See also
