Month: May 2018

Tulita has a territorially designated historic site: the Old Anglican Church.

“Built in c. 1880, this church is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Northwest Territories. The dovetailed log structure is an excellent example of the building style of the time, as well as fine craftsmanship. Its historical association with the Church of England is a testament to early Anglican missionary activities in Northern Canada. Legendary Anglican missionaries, such as Bishop William Carpenter Bompass, are also associated with the site. Located on the former Hudson’s Bay lot in the historic centre of the community, the old Anglican Church speaks to the era of early contact between Europeans and northern Aboriginal people, and the establishment of the church, and commerce, that came with it.”

Since moving here, I had assumed that you couldn’t enter the church because it looked all boarded up from the outside, but it turns out that there’s only a wooden latch on the outside keeping the door closed. Here’s how it looks on the inside:

It’s not obvious from the photo, but the floor is quite warped, with a substantial bulge towards the centre of the building. It’s still in excellent shape for a building that’s been standing in Tulita for almost a century and a half.

Further Reading:

• Canada’s Historic Places
• Northern Heritage Centre