Prairie Churches - A Hammer and a Nail, A Shovel and a Pail

Father Phillip Ruhe, self-taught architect, was responsible for the building of 40 churches, including the elaborate Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception at Cooks Creek, Manitoba, built over 22 years by volunteer hand labor.

The prairie is dotted with unique and picturesque churches, many of which are in danger of being lost forever. Prairie Public’s documentary Prairie Churches preserves images of this priceless heritage and tells the story of Count Berthold von Imhoff, a painter whose artwork lends a unique beauty to 18 churches.

Often the first community structure built, these landmarks represent the hopes and dreams of settlers who sought to forge a new future for themselves and their families. Prairie Churches explores the role churches have played in sustaining the history and culture of the vanishing rural landscape. The program takes a visual tour of 117 outstanding churches scattered across the Northern Plains through all four seasons.



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Producer

Kim Stenehjem and Bob Dambach (Producers), David Geck (Editor), Steven Allen, David Geck, Travis Jensen, Kak Lee, Mitch Lee, Heidi Nelson, Michael Stromenger, Lee Westad (Videographers), Greg Habeck, Tim Stanek, Erik Wohlrabe (Production Assistants), Barb Gravel (Production Manager), Bob Dambach (Executive Producer)

Source

“Prairie Churches” Prairie Public 2008

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