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Canton Church Historic Site
St. Joseph's Catholic Church better known today as the Canton Church was built in 1875-76 by the first pioneers in Montana's Canton Valley representing many faiths, the church became Montana Territory's seventh church.
The church was moved from its original location in 1952 when the Canyon Ferry Dam was enlarged raising the reservoir and covering 4,000 acres and the original Canton village, a few miles north of Townsend. The Canton Church became the focal point for the displaced community. Many church members began attending services at the local Townsend parish, leaving the Canton church in silence except for an occasional baptism or wedding. Local resident Joye Meyer and her husband, Fred, cared for the decaying structure for four decades, then called on their neighbors for help in the 1990s. The project commenced with assistance from the Helena Catholic Diocese.
When the steeple was removed for repairs, it could not be reinstalled because it was built with dimensional lumber, lumber true to size instead of shaved down for smoothness by one-half inch as modern lumber is. Dimensional lumber is hard to find today. Nancy Marks, a Methodist whose great-grandfather, J.R. Marks, helped pay for building the church back in 1875, was tearing down her great-grandfather's barn, also made of dimensional lumber and so the lumber was used to rebuild the church.
With two fund-raisers and local businesses contributing labor and materials, the church structure and interior were restored, as well as recover furnishings and artifacts. So far, the vestibule and steeple have been repaired, the wood siding replaced and painted, and the cedar-shingle roof replaced. The hand-carved oak altar came from the Church of the Sacred Heart which was razed in the early 1900s to build the Cathedral of Saint Helena. The original communion rail and altar have been preserved along with the original organ, crucifix, and vestments of the first priests have been located. Many artifacts are on display.
Admission to the Canton Church Historic Site museum is free May 30 through September 1
every other Friday from 3:00pm - 6:00pm.
The grounds of Canton Church can be rented for weddings and other events. Please contact Canton Church Restoration Inc. through the Broadwater Museum at (406)266-5252 or (406)266-3710.
Services and Amenities
Parking, Registered Historic Site
Directions
As you leave Townsend going west on Highway 12, turn left on secondary road 284 and head north for approximately seven miles. In 1954 St. Joseph's (Canton) Church was removed from its original setting in the valley at Canton and placed on ground connecting it to St. Joseph's cemetery.
Hours / Season of Operation
Season:
May 30-September 1
Every other Friday
Hours:
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Contact Information
Canton Church Historic Site
Mailing Address:
3597 Highway 284
Townsend,
MT 59644
Street Address:
3497 Highway 284
Townsend,
MT 59644
Phone: 406-266-5252
Payment / Reservation Information
Payment Methods:
N/A
Discount Types:
N/A
Reservations:
N/A
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