Crunch time
Stone Church Restoration Society still collecting for final payment
Stone Church Restoration Society needs $6,500 to buy church.
It’s coming down to crunch time for the deadline to pay the final instalment to purchase the former St. Alphonsus Church, but the spokesperson for the society buying it isn’t panicking.
The final $10,000 payment toward the $40,000 sale is due at the end of the month. Melanie Sampson, president and spokesperson for the Stone Church Restoration Society, said Tuesday they are about $6,500 short.
“Money keeps coming in each say,” Sampson said. “It’s always close to the very end when we come up with our payments so we just take one day at a time, that’s all we can do.”
In September 2015, the diocese accepted the offer of the society of the purchase of the former church for $40,000 to be paid in four instalments. The society paid $7,500 on Sept. 30, 2015 and $12,500 on Jan. 31. Another $10,000 is due April 30 and $10,000 July 31.
There are plans to repurpose the church as a non-denominational wedding chapel, community venue and tourist destination.
The society hasn’t yet been late with a payment, Sampson noted, adding she believes the diocese would likely be accommodating if it did require a little extra time to make the final installment.
“We’re reaching out to our donors and we have somebody who wanted to transfer over some of their stocks and bonds,” she said. “We have to raise
“We’re reaching out to our donors and we have somebody who wanted to transfer over some of their stocks and bonds. We have to raise $10,000 every three months. It’s a lot of money.” Melanie Sampson, president and spokesperson, Stone Church Restoration Society,
$10,000 every three months. It’s a lot of money.”
She added the community and local businesses have shown a great deal of support for their efforts.
Sampson said plans are still underway to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the construction of the church. The anniversary falls sometime in July — they’ve been unable to find documentation to confirm the precise date — but plan to hold anniversary events in August or September after taking possession of the church property.
“By that time we’re hoping to have ownership of the property, we’re hoping to have an outdoor celebration, something like they would have had 100 years ago,” Sampson said.
She said she hopes activities will include outdoor events such as pony and wagon rides, opportunities to don period clothing and have photos taken at the church, and an old-fashioned picnic and live music.
Anyone wishing to make a donation or to contact the society can do so by email at cbstonechurch@hotmail.com or by calling 902-371-1946, by visiting cbstonechurch.com or its Facebook page.