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Rundle's Mission
Rundel's Mission.JPG
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 started in 1847. It was built by a Methodist missionary named Robert Rundle. The mission was located on the edge of Pigeon Lake near Thorsby, Alberta, Canada. Robert Rundle taught the Cree people about Christianity and how to farm. He did not let big companies or the government tell him what to do. He wanted to help the local First Peoples in his own way.

History of Rundle's Mission

How the Mission Started

In the middle of the 1800s, Pigeon Lake was a popular meeting spot. Many First Nations groups gathered there. Missionaries also came to the lake, hoping to teach people about Christianity. Robert Rundle had been working out of Fort Edmonton since 1840. In 1847, he got permission to build his mission at Pigeon Lake. This permission came from the Hudson's Bay Company and the Wesleyan Missionary Society.

Robert Rundle's Work

At first, Rundle focused on helping the Assiniboine. But soon, he began to work mainly with the Cree people. He learned their language and translated many hymns and parts of the biblical scriptures into written and spoken Cree. This helped the Cree people understand his teachings better.

There was also a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the lake. The mission also helped start some farming projects. However, Robert Rundle did not see himself as working for the company or the government. He wanted to help the Aboriginal people around him. He knew they faced challenges as more European settlers arrived. The Hudson's Bay Company wanted him to open mission schools. Rundle looked for a good place for a school, but he chose not to build one.

The Mission After Rundle

Robert Rundle had to leave the mission just one year later. He had a bad fall from his horse and hurt his arm badly. When his arm did not get better, he decided to go back home to England. He needed to get proper medical help there.

After Rundle left, a follower named Benjamin Sinclair took over the mission. But by 1850, the church was no longer used. Later, in 1855, another Methodist Reverend named Thomas Woolsey opened it again for a short time. However, he also closed it because the land was not good for farming.

Rundle's Mission Today

Bringing the Mission Back to Life

In 1948, Reverend Dr. Gerald Hutchinson moved to Pigeon Lake. He wondered why a local spot by the lake was called "Mission Beach." He couldn't find a good answer, so he spent the next fifty years researching the mission's history.

In 1965, Dr. Hutchinson's hard work was recognized. Rundle's Mission was officially named a National Historic Monument. Then, in 1997, a special area of about 2-acre (8,100 m2) was recognized. This area is where the first mission buildings and old burial grounds are located. 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, Dr. Hutchinson received a "Lifetime Achievement" award from Museums Alberta. This award honored all his work at Rundle's Mission.

What You Can See at the Mission

Thanks to Dr. Hutchinson's efforts, Rundle's Mission is now a great place to visit. It has a log lodge that was built by hand. There are also two bungalows and a special boardwalk. This boardwalk leads to a natural spring. You can also visit Mission Beach, which is a beach area on the lake. Next to the mission, there is a nature reserve.

See also

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