St. Henry's Cemetery (Twin Butte, MD of Pincher Creek)

In the early 1900s, a wave of settler, many of German origin and having emigrated from Nebraska, came north to the Pincher Creek area, drawn by the promise of open land and ranching opportunity.
By 1904, these families had begun organizing for their own parish church and cemetery site. Chris Speth donated a ten-acre parcel of land on a prominent hill for the purpose of building both the church and its adjoining graveyard.

Construction of the church began in 1906, with local labour and material. The windows and millwork came in from Calgary’s Cushing Mill, and a rock foundation was laid by Herman Heitman.
The church was formally blessed by Bishop Émile J. Légaré (O.M.I) on 28 May 1907, even though the building was not yet fully finished.
In 1907 the very first burial in the cemetery occurred, Theodore Bonertz died in a threshing accident.

The church was dedicated to St. Henry (Duke of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor) a German Saint. The choice was made at the insistence of Father Albert Lacombe (O.M.I), who visited the site. Over the ensuing years the church and cemetery became a focal point for the Catholic ranching families of the region, serving baptisms, funerals, Sunday services, and community gatherings.

Fred & Bertha Latmann Schrempp donated a prominent cross at the cemetery’s centre. Approximately 2009, Francis & Helen Schrempp Hochstein donated a bronze Christ figure for the cross and a granite boulder at the entrance bearing the names of those interred.
The fact that the cemetery continues in use today underscores the enduring connection of local families to this consecrated ground.

After serving the community for 94 years, the church was formally closed as a parish in 2001 under the planning decisions of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.  The property, both the church and cemetery, is maintained through the volunteer efforts of the Historical Society of St. Henry’s, a local group of families and former parishioners.

St. Henry’s Cemetery stands as more than simply a burial ground: it is a living link to the waves of settlement and faith-based community building in southwest Alberta in the early 20th century. The cemetery, perched on its ridge with a panoramic view of the Rockies, Porcupine Hills and prairie to the east, embodies the pioneer spirit and the deep meaning the land holds for these families.
It complements the historic church beside it and remains a tangible connection to the German-Catholic settlers who shaped the Twin Butte, Pincher Creek area.