Chekhiv church of the Holy Ghost constructed 1906, 6 miles south-west of Preeceville; R.M. 334.

CHEKHIV — The church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost is the first church of the parish.

The church was constructed in 1906. In 1927 it was relocated to a different area of the same site and reconstructed. Bishop Nicetas Budka blessed the church in 1914 and visited the parish again in 1918. Subsequent episcopal visitations were by Archbishop Basil Ladyka in 1933 and Bishop Andrew Roborecki in 1959.

The wooden church is in the form of an elongated cross with a central octagonal dome. The roof and dome are shingled; the cupola above the dome is covered with white sheet metal and apexed by a cross. Entry into the church is through a small adjoining porch-vestibule with a low shingled gable roof. Both the exterior and interior of the church are finished in narrow wood siding and are painted a light color. In the interior, the vaulted ceiling extends into a large central dome. The elevated sanctuary and main altar have one adjoining sacristy which exits to the church grounds; the nave contains wooden pews seating approx. 70 persons. Lighting is provided by candles while heating wood or coal burning stove. The church was constructed at a total cost of $3,000 and by voluntary labour of the parishioners under the foremanship of Danylo Holowa-chuk and Stefan Rehaliuk. The two acre church and cemetery site was donated by Semen Luciw. A wooden belfry with three bells was constructed near the church during its relocation in 1927; the cross nearby commemorates the Holy Mission of 1914.

Ukrainian settlement in this area began in 1902 with settlers from the village ofChekhiv in the Buchach county who thus named their parish. The founding members were: Vasyi’ Prystay, Nykola Luciw, Ivan Holowachuk, Tanas Romanyshyn. The first holy services were served by Rev. Achille Delaere, CSSR, Rev. Henry Boels, CSSR and Rev. Francis Van den Bosch, CSSR, and were held in the dug-out shelters initially occupied by the settlers. Later, until the construction of the church, they were held at the home of F. Nazar. In 1941 the parish consisted of 30 members with 60 children (Prop. Knyha); in 1967 there were 90 souls (questionnaire) and in 1975, 17 families and 4 single members were accounted for. In 1976 the parish was under the directorship of Rev. Casimir Kucharek, acting pastor for the pastoral district, Peter Gulka, and Paul Chapty.

The Ukrainian Catholic parish of the Holy Ghost, Chekhiv, is under the pastoral charge of Preeceville.

The name “Chekhiv” originates from a village in the Buchach county of Halychyna (Galicia).

Update 2003

The church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost is the first church of the parish. The church was constructed in 1906. In 1927, it was relocated to a different area of the samesite. Bishop Nicetas Budka blessed the church in 1914 and visited the parish again in 1918. Subsequent episcopal visitations were by Archbishop Basil Ladyka in 1933 and Bishop Andrew Roborecki in 1959. The church was constructed at a total cost of $3,000 and by voluntary labour of the parishioners under the foremanship of Danylo Holowachuk and Stefan Rehahuk. The two acre church and cemetery site was donated by Semen Luciw. A wooden belfry with three bells was constructed near the church during its relocation in 1927; the metal cross installed in 2002 commemorates the Holy Missions.

Ukrainian settlement in this area began in 1902 with settlers from the village of Chekhiv in the Buchach county in Ukraine who thus named their parish. The founding members were Vasyi Prystay, Nykola Luciw, Ivan Holowachuk, Tanas Romanyshyn and others. The first holy services were served by Rev. Achille Delaere from Yorkton. In 1941, the parish consisted of 30 families with 60 children. The Ukrainian Catholic Parish of the Descent of the Holy Ghost, Chekhiv, is under the pastoral charge of Preeceville. In Chekhiv church there is just one service a year on “praznyk”, on the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Ghost (Pentecost).