The history of Zion Church dates back to 1879. Service was held in Rugby School for two summers, 1883 and 1884. In March 1885, Rev. A. McTavish organized a meeting of Grand Valley and Rugby.The first sacrament was held October 18, 1885.

In 1891 a committee was appointed to provide a church for their own use. In 1892, land from Mr. Joseph Hillis was obtained by a 99 year lease and a canvas was made to raise the necessary funds to build the church.

The new church was opened on Oct. 23, 1892.

At a meeting on May 30, 1895, arrangements were made to select a site for a cemetery. (Record of Zion Grave Yard 1896)

(Source: A History of Elton Municipality, pp 56ff [1973; Adapted])

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Established in 1891.

(Source: Manitoba Genealogical Society)

(Source: Manitoba Historical Society [Adapted])

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Dominion Land Survey coordinates: LSD03-36-17-28-W1

In the Municipality of Prairie View

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As noted above, a part of the story of the town and its inhabitants from the early days of European settlement in about 1881 through roughly 1973 is told in the volume "A History of Elton Municipality", especially starting on the cited page. A free digital version of this and many other Manitoba local history books can be found online in the University of Manitoba Digital Collections. There is also a list of such books organized by district and town name on the Manitoba Historical Society's website on their page entitled "Finding Aid: Manitoba Local History Books".

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society (reference #0237), transcribed by a member or members in 1987. Also available to MGS members is a searchable online database named the "MGS Manitoba Name Index" (or MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication "Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites" (revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages).

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Additionally, many records for defunct United congregations in Manitoba, and those of the sects that merged to form it, are now kept in their Archives and Records Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.