Cape Breton Post

‘We did it’

Stone Church Restoratio­n Society raises the $40,000 needed to purchase 100-year-old historic structure

- BY SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE

A local society’s prayers have been answered.

Melanie Sampson, chair of the Stone Church Restoratio­n Society, said the society has raised the entire $40,000 needed to purchase the former St. Alphonsus Church.

“Through the support of the community, we did it,” she said, adding it has been a long twoand a-half-year struggle raising the funds and getting people to believe in the cause of saving the 100-year-old historic structure.

“It’s a true tale of how a community and people of different denominati­ons, faiths and background­s can come together and save a piece of history,” she said.

“No words could ever express the overwhelmi­ng feeling of knowing that a nation has come together to save a national treasure.”

She said their lawyer has notified the diocese. In order to

host a celebratio­n there they need the deed and keys, she added.

“We are hoping to have both by Oct. 1 so we can have a celebratio­n before the bad weather starts to come.”

The Diocese of Antigonish closed the visually striking historic church that overlooks Sydney harbour in 2007 when it was determined that structural repairs would cost more than $600,000.

Sampson got involved in February 2014 and the Stone Church Restoratio­n Society was formed. In September 2015, the diocese accepted the offer of the society to the purchase the former church for $40,000 to be paid in four installmen­ts. Sampson knew it would be a long hard journey.

“I’ve always felt in my heart this was what the public wanted, the community would pull together and help save this historic structure.”

Sampson said as they recently got close to the amount needed, it was overwhelmi­ng to then receive two phones calls from people outside the province with substantia­l donations.

“They both said they believed the stone church needed to be saved.”

She said one was a businessma­n in Ontario, originally from Lingan.

“He reads the Cape Breton Post online every day and has been following our story,” she said.

The man donated $6,500 and the following day they received a call from a woman in New York, who donated $7,000.

“She has a business where they redo old gothic churches. She felt it needed to be saved.”

Sampson said the couple had never been here but do business in Toronto and plan to visit the historic structure in the future.

“The church was originally built — and it will be restored — on the backs of every average person, $10-$20 at a time.”

“It’s a true tale of how a community and people of different denominati­ons, faiths and background­s can come together and save a piece of history.” Melanie Sampson

She said their journey to save the former church included many in-kind donations, from Glen Campbell donating his legal services to the free hall rentals for their fundraiser­s to the Royal Canadian Legion in Whitney Pier.

“All this support helped save the church from an owner who wanted to demolish it.”

Now Sampson said the society will be starting from square one again to start the restoratio­n process.

She said as soon as they have the keys and deed, an assessment will be done on the building. One of the first projects will be fixing the roof.

Sampson said the problem in the past was they couldn’t apply for grants or funding without the deed.

“You can’t get grants unless you have ownership.”

She said the focus will be to turn the former stone church it a wedding chapel, tourist attraction and a venue for community events.

She said National Trust is also supporting them.

“We are their poster child so this is a big thing for them on a national level.”

Rev. Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the diocese, said the diocese has been advised by the lawyer for the society that the funds are there to complete the sale agreement.

“It’s a done deal, we are just waiting for papers. It’s just legal steps now — it won’t be a long time, it should be a very quick process now.”

Abbass said the society worked very hard and were very committed.

“They seem to have some very nice plans for this building, of course we’d only wish them the best of luck,” he said.

“It’s great they are going to be able to preserve a historic building. We wish them well.”

 ?? SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE/CAPE BRETON POST ?? From left, Melanie Sampson, chair of the Stone Church Restoratio­n Society, and Jean Mazalin, secretary, celebrate the society finally raising the $40,000 needed to purchase the former St. Alphonsus Church in Victoria Mines, after non-stop fundraisin­g...
SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE/CAPE BRETON POST From left, Melanie Sampson, chair of the Stone Church Restoratio­n Society, and Jean Mazalin, secretary, celebrate the society finally raising the $40,000 needed to purchase the former St. Alphonsus Church in Victoria Mines, after non-stop fundraisin­g...
 ?? SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE/CAPE BRETON POST ?? The former St. Alphonsus Church. The Stone Church Restoratio­n Society has confirmed raising the entire $40,000 to purchase the 100-year old historic structure.
SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE/CAPE BRETON POST The former St. Alphonsus Church. The Stone Church Restoratio­n Society has confirmed raising the entire $40,000 to purchase the 100-year old historic structure.

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