Future of historical Anglican Church up in air

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Actions surrounding the fate of a 105-year-old historical building are at a standstill, with an offer accepted on the land that requires the removal of the structure, which in turn results in loss of funding.
The Western and District Historical Society purchased the St. Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church earlier this year for a mere $1, after the congregation was facing $60,000 in environmental studies, remediation, and air monitoring. During an earlier congregational meeting, it was decided that a new building and a new space would be sought and the former space be put up for sale. The Western and District Historical Society welcomed the offer to restore the building for their own purpose and originally planned on moving the building to a remote location, and then planned on moving it to a section of Lambert Park, which was met with hostility by surrounding residents.
Upon being informed that moving the building may cause it to lose most if not all of its historical value with the provincial government, which would translate into lost funds to restore the building, the society is now hoping to keep the structure on is original site and come to an agreement with the new owner of the six lots, whose offer has been accepted.
“On behalf of the congregation, the old building was offered to the historical society for $1,” said Pastor and Priest Bryan Beveridge. “On at least three occasions I had conversations with members of the historical society and that verbal offer was accepted in all cases in fact they were grateful for what they called our generous offer. The removal of the old church building was and is crucial to our moving forward as a congregation. Under the terms of our current sale agreement the church building must be removed.”
The society was the recipient of a $5,000 prize earlier this year at the second annual Let’s Make a Pitch event to aid in moving the church off its current location. As the building requires extensive repairs, the society is hoping to work with the buyer and the congregation and still be a candidate for provincial restoration funding.
“In talking to the province, once a historic building is moved from its original site, it loses most if not all of its historic significance,” said Bruce Klaiber with WDHS. “To us, the importance of that was we would no longer qualify for provincial restoration grants or at least we wouldn’t qualify for nearly the significant amount that we would if the building remained on its original site. So our focus then turned from one of moving the building to leaving the building where it is and purchasing it there.”
Rev. Beveridge assured council during the regular council meeting on Nov. 17 that correspondence with the buyer has been established and will be brought to the next congregational meeting.