The Rural Voice, 2019-08, Page 12“Never believe that a few caring
people can’t change the world. For,
indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
~Margaret Mead
If you have the opportunity to
drive down Highway 21 between
Amberley and Goderich, you will
pass through the tiny hamlet of
Kingsbridge, which is composed of
nine houses, a former church, and a
signpost, surrounded by farms. There
are no public buildings for over 15
km in any direction in this area. But
you would be wrong if you thought
that this is a place where nothing
ever happens.
“Rural Isolation used to mean that
communities were isolated from
services because of their geography.
Anymore it is starting to mean that
the people within the communities
are isolated from each other because
they no longer have that central space
to gather in,” explains Jennifer
Miltenburg, Director, St. Joseph’s
Kingsbridge Community.
In 2012, the St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, a heritage building over 100
years old, was closed and slated for
demolition. This left a vibrant rural
community isolated with no venue
for public gatherings, service group
meetings, or rental options.
The community attracted national
attention at the time when it rallied to
keep the church open, even if not
functioning as a church anymore, but
as a place to for the community to
gather. For those of us who don’t live
that close to Kingsbridge, we may
have a vague recollection of people
rallying to keep this building open
and in use – but it has mostly faded
from our attention.
But what has happened in this tiny
rural community is amazing,
inspiring, and shows what people
who care can accomplish – just by
coming out and refusing to take “no”
for an answer.
After the church closed, the
community came together to form St.
Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community, a
registered charity, with the goal of
providing the community with a
multi-use building. Since achieving
ownership of the building – renamed
Kingsbridge Centre – in May 2015,
584 individuals, including 372
seniors, have volunteered to repair,
restore, and renovate the building and
establish vibrant a concert and
theatre series.
Between May 2015 and June
2019, 584 individuals have
volunteered on the Kingsbridge
Centre Renovation project. Area
businesses have contributed
$169,326, individuals have
contributed and fundraised $474,174,
and Kingsbridge has established 26
community partnerships. The
downstairs was completely gutted
due to water damage, and was closed
to the public. It has since been
renovated in phases as funds were
obtained. After over four years of
ownership, the basement renovations
are nearing completion. The final
Phase 4 is the kitchen area, which is
currently under construction.
In 2019, from March to June, there
were 51 uses of the building in 102
days (not including work bees), 130
volunteers (11 new) with 7,500
volunteer hours (value $105,500 at
minimum wage).
Kingsbridge was 2018 Winner of
Huron Arts & Heritage Cultural
Organization Award, (placed third in
2019) and St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge
Community has been notified by the
National Trust for Canada that the
“Kingsbridge Centre Renovation”
has been shortlisted for an
Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone
Award in the Transformative Projects
category.
In May, 2019, the community lost
a vibrant and active member and the
Kingsbridge Centre seemed to be
afitting place for people to come
together to celebrate her life, to
grieve, and to say goodbye. The main
hall of the basement was used for the
8 The Rural Voice
Kingsbridge Centre
is way more than a
building
Kate farms,
hikes, canoes,
and plays
guitar in
Huron County.
Kate Procter
WBELLBREWINCO.WWCBO and online at WL
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