Huron Expositor, 2013-12-18, Page 17Wednesday, December 18, 2013 • Huron Expositor 17
Effort to save St. Joseph's Church gaining momentum
Century old year in
Kingsbridge closed
in October 2012
Dave Flaherty
QM Agency
Even though it's been a year since
the last service at St. Joseph Church,
a determined group of citizens is not
about to let go of their beloved
"community hub'
In October of 2012, the congrega-
tion was given notice by the Diocese
of London that the church would be
closed.
The reason given was the high
costs of bringing it up to code.
This came only a few years after
the church had been set to close but
the youth group performed a large
public rally, which caused the Dio-
cese to reverse the decision.
One year later, while the sting
from the closure of the church is still
there, residents are now focused on
gaining ownership of the building
so it can continue to be that "com-
munity hub'
The not-for-profit St. Joseph
Kingsbridge Community (SJKC)
group was created with the "goal to
preserve and foster the Kingsbridge
Community:'
The Diocese has agreed to sell
both the church and rectory to the
group for $1, while the cemetery
and grotto will be severed.
According to Jennifer Miltenburg,
who is involved with the group and
a former congregation member at
the church, while that may sound
like a steal,
they have to consider a number of
things to make the plan work.
She said while owning the build-
ing is desirable, there has to be a
business plan behind it.
That plan was presented at a
meeting on Nov 30, which laid out
how group officials hope to use the
building.
The belief in addition to being a
"community hub" it can also
become a "cultural hub'
There are five proposed programs
include ecunemical worship serv-
ices, a concert program, and
becoming an exhibit space for local
artists.
Officials also believe revenue can
be made through the rental of facili-
ties for weddings, family gatherings
and meetings etc.
The church could also serve as a
repository for local history as many
pictures and artifacts from the par-
ish and the former St. Joseph's
School are already housed at the
church.
The group has also identified over
about $180,000 in improvements
that need to be made to the church.
Miltenburg said a number of local
professionals in the area have
jumped into the mix to offer their
services in making estimates and
volunteering to help with the
improvements.
By the end of the week of Dec. 13,
Miltenburg said that $105,000 had
been made in pledges towards the
cause.
She said the support has come
from all over the province, as many
people who used to live in the area
don't want to see the beloved church
come down.
"A lot of people care about his-
tory," Miltenburg said, noting that in
Europe this type of building, which
opened in 1903, likely wouldn't
need to be saved from demolition.
For the sale to be completed, the
group also needs to acquire charita-
ble status, a decision Miltenburg
said won't likely happen until some-
time in 2014.
CONTINUED > PAGE 18
Giving Back 2013
On behalf of all of our clients, Dale Group Realty Corp. has
made a donation that we thinkwillmake a clfference to
The Jfuron County Christmas Bureau.
Thankyou for your continued support
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