Heritage group hopes national attention may save church
A church in Sackville, which could face the wrecking ball, has been added to the top 10 endangered places list for this year by the National Trust for Canada.
That could be good news for a group who's been trying to save the 140 year old church, which was put up for sale in 2011.
John Duchemin, the chair of the Sackville People Leading Action to Save Heritage, told CBC News the recognition by the trust can only help the group's cause.
"It increases awareness. It increases publicity and it will make people in Sackville realize there are other people across the country who care about this building and the heritage value that it has," said Duchemin.
But he also said many people in Sackville should ask themselves if they've been on the wrong side of the debate to save the church.
"The town council, the university, Mount Allison University, the church congregation, the developer. They've all shirked their duty in terms of saving what's a culturally important building," he said.
In March, the Sackville Heritage Board approved a demolition permit for Sackville United, but Duchemin's group appealed that decision to the Assessment and Planning Appeal Board of New Brunswick.
He said he is hoping the national attention from the trust can be used during the appeal, scheduled to be heard on June 15.
The National Trust for Canada.is a non-profit group based in Ottawa which aims to protect historic buildings and natural areas. This is its 11th top 10 list.
Natalie Bull, the executive director of the organization, said this church is the poster child for about 9,000 places of faith across the country that face shrinking congregations and rising maintenance costs.
"We believe the list is a powerful tool for local groups to use in the fight to save endangered buildings," she said.
As an example, Bull said in 2006 the York Train Station in Fredericton made its list and has sent become part of a new development.
According to the trust's website the church has been a "landmark in the heart of Sackville's downtown since 1875, the impressive 40-metre spire of the former Sackville United Church is the most recognized feature of the skyline."
The site notes the building was expanded in 1998 "to the configuration of a Greek cross by acclaimed New Brunswick architect H.H. Mott. The impressive interior craftsmanship is attributed to highly skilled wooden-sailing-ship builders, and the set of magnificent four-metre stained-glass rose windows to renowned Montreal artisans John Spence and Sons."
The church also has an original 116-pipe Casavant organ installed in 1927.
