Service held at McDougall Church weeks after it was destroyed by fire

Supporters of southern Alberta's oldest protestant church gathered Sunday afternoon to grieve the loss of the historic landmark, which was destroyed by fire just a few weeks ago.

The wooden McDougall Stoney Mission Church was built in 1875 to ministerto the Stoney First Nation by George and John McDougall.

Fire ripped through the building on May 22, leaving it a shell of charred ruins.

• Oldest Protestant church in southern Alberta destroyed by fire
• Fire at oldest Protestant church in southern Alberta 'likely accidental,' say RCMP

The group gathered Sunday under a canvas tent just metres from where they would normally hold their spring service.Tammy Love with the McDougall Stoney Mission Society said the occasion was bittersweet for members of the congregation.

"We've invited people to come out and celebrate and share stories and just be here at this place," she said.

The historic church stood for 142 years just east of Morley. The RCMP say it wasn't arson, but likely an accident.

Kathy Epp is the great-granddaughter of the church's namesake, John McDougall.

She says Sunday's service was as much about moving on as it was about mourning the loss.

"We're here to give some encouragement and some hope and to continue that message of the graciousness of God that the Rev. John McDougall brought," she said.

The McDougall Stoney Mission Society is in the midst of determining what, if anything, can be salvaged from the charred structure.

The hope isto rebuild with a GoFundMe campaign already set up for donations.

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