Spaca Moskalyk: As She Stands Now | Rural Alberta Photography

I’m late in reporting the news, but it looks like the Spaca Moskalyk has been saved, at least at the time of this entry … To clarify, I suppose I should say the vote has been held to save the structure. I truly don’t know what the future holds as I don’t have any specifics outside of what the linked article has and I’m not really staying in the know either, so I will wait to see it play out like most folks.

Seeing this church saved to those who may have loved ones in their final resting place in the adjacent cemetery is important, I can imagine. Parishioners and others with an emotional attachment are thrilled, I’m sure. Those of us who hold no religious ties with this church, but rather appreciate her beauty as part of a forever changing Alberta landscape are happy she might be able to stick around a lot longer. It’s depressing to see the landscape change with the removal of ageing and abandoned structures that add to our rural Alberta charm (the late, great Mundare grain elevator, anyone?). This is why we as photographers need to continue to get out there and shoot … document … capture … and then shoot some more and don’t stop. The legacy of our stunning Alberta prairies depend on it.

From a photographer’s standpoint, I’ll definitely be shooting the Spaca Moskalyk again, when the mood strikes and all other elements come together. I’d say this structure, along with hundreds of others in Alberta, are worth the time and money in the sense of a road trip to capture and document in the manner I know best, from behind the lens.

I still have more images of this church to edit and will post when I can. I look forward to meeting her again and seeing what we can come up with; her grand presence, energy and history and me and my camera.

Lastly, as a side note – I’m glad so many have been involved in documenting the beauty and history of this church, through the written word as well as visually. I know it’s been said before, but it bears repeating: you never know who is watching or reading and the unspoken impact your written words or photographs can make.

See you in the field!