CYPRESS RIVER, Man. – The same year that the Titanic was being built in Europe, a group of Icelandic carpenters was framing up a church on the Manitoba prairies.
In 1910, the Bru Frikirkja Lutheran Church was built southwest of Cypress River. It became a place of worship for people of Icelandic descent who settled in the area.
Unlike the Titanic, the church has enjoyed longevity. It now serves as a restaurant and bed and breakfast business, owned by Annette and Bert Wytinck.
The Wytincks became interested in the church a couple of years ago. The building was for sale. Bert inspected the structure and felt that it was still sound enough to save. They bought it and moved it to their farm in August 1997.
The building now rests on a new foundation and most of the restoration work is complete. Thirteen stained-glass windows are among the striking features of the structure.
