HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-05-02, Page 24Page 8B - The Wingham Advanee-Times, May 2, 1989
Sacred Heart parishioners
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With an eye to the future, yet
ever mindful of the past, parish-
ioners at Sacred Heart Church in
Wingham will see construction of a
new church building, offices and
rectory begin this week
Sunday's sod -turning was the
end of the one long road for church
members and the beginning of a
new one. The new church is to be
ready for services this Christmas.
Not even God's house escapes
escalating building costs. The pro-
ject will cost an estimated $1 mil-
lion.
For Father Stan Soltysik and his
parishioners, the new church has
been a long time coming, While
they realized the existing church,
completed in 1877, was inadequate
for an expanding parish, for several
years the possibility of renovations
was discussed.
However, they learned that reno-
vating also is quite costly, and
besides, it would not add much
seating capacity to the already -
cramped conditions. A new church
hall also was needed and better
access for frail and handicapped
people.
About three years ago, a number
of meetings were held, the over-
whelming consensus of which was
to build a new church. While the
parishioners were enthusiastic, says
Fr. Soltysik, the next job was to con-
vince the diocese.
Through some gentlepersuasion,
representatives of the bishop came
to see the merits of a new church
building, but stipulated that one-
half of the cost must be raised local-
ly
A building committee was
formed immediately, along with a
fund-raising arm. Together they set
out to raise $500,000 in what Fr.
Soltysik calls "a small and poor
parish".
But what they have been able to
accomplish is astounding. In just
three short years, $300,000 has been c
raised through fund-raising and in
donations and pledges.
Fr. Soltysik says they hope to raise
at least another $100,000 through
the sale of the present rectory and
two adjoining lots. The remainder
will come in the form of a loan from
the diocese building fund.
VISION FOR FUTURE
The new Sacred Heart Church
will be thoroughly modern in every
respect, although as much as possi-
ble will be salvaged from the old
building, including the stained
glass windows and altar.
The church sanctuary will hold
over 300 people — double the size
of the existing church. It will
include a cloakroom, narthex,
multi-purpose and conference
rooms, as well as washrooms and
storage space.
Outside the church proper, will
be situated a larger multi-purpose
room, offices, church archives and
sacristy The rectory will include a
kitchen, dinette, living room, a
study, guest room and master bed-
room.
The architect is Paul Dawson and
Carl Reinhardt of Tceswater has
been awarded the contract for cori-
struction of the new church.
Although the new church has
been long awaited, there will be
more than a few people saddened
to see the existing church torn
down.
Bob Skinn of Wingham, a mem-
ber of the fund-raising committee
and local history buff, has been
delving into the history of Sacred
Heart and the very origins of the
parish.
Mr. Skinn says he has learned
that Sacred Heart Church was
completed in 1877, two years before
the Town of Wingham was incorpo-
rated. In fact, the church is on the
original town map.
Sacred Heart was the first brick
church constructed in Wingham, no
small feat for a parish of less than
10 families.
Prior to that time, Mass had been
elebrated in local homes, at the
Queen's Hotel and at the residence
f a Mr. King in Lower Town by
visiting clergymen.
A history of Sacred Heart parish,
compiled in 1977, reports the com-
pletion of the new church 100 years
earlier "was a very important mile-
stone in the growth of Catholicity
in this part of the 'Old Huron Tract,
as the subsequent years have
. proven. For example, in 1877, there
were three baptisms; 1878, five;
1 :1, eleven."
The early church building had no
basement or heating system, both
of which were added later.
One old gentleman reportedly
told Mr. Skinn there were six
Catholic families in Wingham in
1912. Today, the parish boasts
approximately 200 families.
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TURN OF CENTURY PHOTO—This photograph of Sacred
Heart Church in Wingham was taken at the turn of the century.
Although it was the first brick church built in Wingham, the struc-
ture had no heating system or basement until several years later.
(Photo courtesy of Bob Skinn)
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Sacristy
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Multipurpose
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AKitchen;:d-Dinette
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Study
Bedroom
NEW SACRED HEART CHURCH—This is an architect's conception of the new Sacred Heart
Church in Wingham. The new church building will be three times larger than the existing church.
The new model also will contain a multi-purpose meeting room, office, archives and rectory. (Cour-
tesy of Father Stan Soltysik)
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THE
WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES
SOD TURNING—Aurelia Skinn and Mary Reader turned the first two pieces of sod to get the
building project under way at Sacred Heart Church. A large turnout was on hand to witness the
event.
ceremony. Offering spade -handling advice to the two ladies is Wayne Waechter, chairman of the