From the Archives of the Archdiocese of Edmonton as recorded by Sister Cecile Dupris, Archivist the following was sent on Feb. 27, 1981.

Roman Catholic Parish of St. Margarets ( Deville) was established canonically on June 1, 1915 by Most Rev. Emile Legal, Archbishop of Edmonton.

 

Priests Through Time

According to Baptism Registries,  this mission was served from Edson by Father Beaudry, o.m.i. from 1912-1916.

1917-1920 Hastings Lake was served from Lac Ste. Anne, Baptism records were signed by Rev. P. Beaudry, Rev. C. Tissier, Rev. E.J. Cunningham and Rev. Joseph Porter.

Aug. 1923-1929 Hastings Lake was served by Rev. J.A. Sullivan, Rev L.J. Lambrick, Rev. Eugene Rooney, Rev. E. Quirk, Rev. W, J, Mcleod

1924 A few records in the registers of Spruce Grove were signed by Fr. P. Beaudry and Rev. E. Rooney

1930 summer Tofield and missions, among which was Hastings Lake, were served from Edmonton by the Redemptorist Fathers.

1938-1945 Rev. Norbert Schmeltzer, C.S. R. seems to have been appointed as pastor for the area.

1946 Rev. H. Hickey appears in Tofield Registry with B. Gorman in 1947.

1950-1961 Rev. E. Purcell was in charge of Tofield and missions

1963 and 1964 Rev. E. McCarty

1966-1970 Rev. Leslie Scriven

1970 the mission of Hastings Lake no longer appears in Western Catholic Directory

From 1972 Tofield and area was served from Sherwood Park.

 

History  from Other Sources

St. Margarets  Church was built circa 1912 and was one of the earliest missions in the area.    Originally a plaster and log structure, it was enlarged in the early 1920’s and a new roof and chimney were built.  On June 1, 1915, the Most Reverend Emile Legal, Archbishop of Edmonton, welcomed St. Margaret, officially as a Roman Catholic Church.  The church served has served many people until 1952 when the services were moved to St. Jude Church, at Ministik on Highway 14.

April 11, 1918 Peter Hourston, Deville, donates for $1.00, a portion of NE 28 51 20 W4 that is listed at 208.71 ft by 208.71 ft square (Approx 1 Ac)  for $1.00 to La Corporation Archiepiscopal Catholique ’Edmonton. Improvements on the land are listed as Church with a value of $250.00. The land was valued at $10.00.

Sept 4, 1951 Final Certificate of Approval from Provincial Board of Health given to La Corporation Archiepiscopale Catholique ( St. Margarets Cemetery) for apportion of the NE 28 51 20 W4 land to be used for cemetery purposes only – that is the most Southerly 129 ft of the original land.

March 1975 Mr. Vince Bates received $2000.00 as a grant under the Cemetery Restoration and Survey Program ( AB Gov’t) for installation of the fence around the section of the Cemetery located on SE 28 51 20 W4. Survey undertaken by Stewart and Weir.

Local pioneers used this peaceful site as a burial spot prior to 1900.  Ground Penetrating Radar discovered about a dozen graves dating back to pre 1900.

1976-77 Homemade white wooden crosses placed.

1981-83 OLPH Parish in Sherwood Park undertakes extensive restoration with a $3000.00 grant  from Dept. of Culture. Initiated by Fr. Albert and Reeve J.D. Morrow, a double outhouse was built and fire pit added.

1983 Strathcona County endorses St. Margarets as a “historic resource” significant to the County.

1983 Pentacost, first mass since abandonment in 1952.

1984 care of St. Margarets was handed over to OLPH by Archbishop MacNeil, Boundaries of OLPH extended to include St. Margarets and be listed as a mission of OLPH.

1984-5 OLPH Youth Group involved and uses facility.

1985 Final report to Alta Culture on renovations.

Late 80’s thru mid 90’s no regular maintenance, vandalism was reported to OLPH as their name was on the sign.

June 21, 1996 community meeting at Ministik Hall regarding stopping sale of property by Archdiocese.

Jan. 1998 Friends of Deville St. Margarets Society formed and filed with AB Gov’t as not for profit organization.

1998 metal gate installed at driveway.

Oct. 10, 1999 Father Purcell held mass at St. Margarets and the church was overflowing with people.

July 17, 2000 Agreement between Metis Nation of Alberta and Friends of Deville St, Margarets Society signed.

July 18, 2000 Archbishop Collins, Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton grants consent under Section 67 of Cemeteries Act as to the transfer of St. Margarets Cemetery to the Metis Nation of Alberta. Taken into account was the fact that there is no access to the Cemetery other than thru the Church property and that a management agreement was entered into between the MNA and Friends of Deville St. Margarets Society for management of same.

2000 new outhouse installed , volunteer labor and donations along with County of Strathcona grant of $1050.00.

2002 Grant  ” History Lost.. . Families Found” GPR done, about 150 graves found, white crosses installed.

2004 CIP Grant “ Walk on and Know Us” for $10,000. replaced floor, 3 doors to original style, window above front door, GPR along fence line, refurnished interior ceiling and walls, sign replacement.

August 24, 2003 Historical Resource Designation of St. Margaret’s Church signed by Rob Lougheed MLA .

The Friends of Deville/St. Margaret’s Society have been formally involved as the advocate of the church and cemetery since the fall of 1996. The Society was formally accepted as a Not for profit Society in early 1998.