Mcdougall church at crossroads
I was away on a family emergency when the hubbub broke concerning the proposed sale of McDougall United Church, so I did not get a chance to share my perspective.
First, I want to dispel the impression that the McDougall congregation is old or infirm. It consists of people in every age bracket.
The congregation carries on a vibrant ministry in the downtown core, including strong support of the Bissell Centre, E4C, sandwich making for the homeless, and fundraising for the food bank. It has one of the finest music programs in the city and is host to many others.
Its people are among the warmest, most inclusive of any I’ve had the privilege of working with. New families and individuals are attracted to the church regularly by worship services that are inspirational and relevant.
The McDougall congregation takes seriously its own role in the upkeep of the heritage building it occupies, as do I. We realize the building is a treasure to the entire city and consider it a privilege to worship there.
The acoustics are amazing, and stained glass windows and oak pews breathtaking. Repairs are made on the building regularly which, on one that old, seem ongoing. However, because of several failed attempts at partnerships in the past, the need for major work has become urgent.
All options are being explored. Members are examining ways they can play an even greater role in the care of their historic church. Historical designation, the formation of a foundation and the development of the existing parking lot into a downtown residence are all on the table.
Yes, the idea of selling the building to the city was also explored. This is a new chapter in the life of the church, and the way forward is being carefully considered. No stone is being left unturned.
We could move elsewhere. We could sell the church to a developer, take our $10 million, the estimate of the current worth of the property, and build a modern structure someplace else. But we do not want to do that.
There is a need for vibrant spiritual ministries such as ours in the downtown core. In addition to the homeless, thousands of people live and work almost within sight of McDougall’s historic walls. If we move, the City of Edmonton would be faced with a choice of seeing one of its most important and historic landmarks disappear, or of blocking such a move by taking on entirely the responsibility for its preservation.
That is a dilemma nobody wants.