The Lucknow Sentinel, 2013-12-23, Page 3Monday, December 23, 2013 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
Effort to save St. Joseph's Church
gaining momentum
Dave Flaherty
Goderich Signal -Star
Even though it's been over a year since
the last service at St. Joseph Church, a
determined group of citizens is not
about to let go of their beloved "commu-
nity hub'
In October of 2012, the congregation
was given notice by the Diocese of Lon-
don 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 Diocese to
reverse the decision.
One year later, while the sting from the
closure of the church is still there, resi-
dents are now focused on gaining own-
ership of the building so it can continue
to be that "community hub':
The not-for-profit St. Joseph Kings-
bridge 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 building 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 "com-
munity hub" it can also become a "cul-
tural hub':
There are five proposed programs
include ecunemical worship services, a
concert program, and becoming an
exhibit space for local artists.
Officials also believe revenue can be
made through the rental of facilities for
weddings, family gatherings and meet-
ings etc.
The church could also serve as a
repository for local history as many pic-
tures and artifacts from the parish 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 history,"
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 charitable
status, a decision Miltenburg said won't
likely happen until sometime in 2014.
Miltenburg said the issue surrounding
the church is also about showing that the
community won't throw its hands up
and say, "what can we do'
"Kingsbridge is known to be vocal. It's
a real community," she said.
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The church has been the heart of the community
for many years, and the residents don't want to see
what has happened in so many other rural Ontario
areas happen to them.
It's not just important to people who live within
minutes of the church, as Miltenburg explains.
"This is a great number of people who grew up
and lived in Kingsbridge," she
said. "We are surrounded by people who have
interest in Kingsbridge."
"It's part of our heritage, part of our history,"
Miltenburg said.
She said when it comes down to it; the fate of the
church should be in the hands of the local
community.
"If we don't buy it, they may or may not offer it to
someone else," Miltenburg said.
If they purchase the building, and the plan for a
"community hub" does not pan out, Miltenburg
said at least they would have made an effort
"You can say to yourself I did my best," she said.
To learn more, make a pledge, or track the
progress of the pledges, visit www.stjosephskings-
bridge.com
Submitted
Tractor Pullers for Seniors!
The Dungannon Tractor Pullers and Lucknow Kinsmen made a $3,500 donation to the Dungannon Seniors Center
for renovation support on Dec. 14, 2013. L -R: Luke Smith — Lucknow Kinsmen, George Errington, Dave Adams
Tractor Puller, Tom Young, Margaret Young, Jean Errington, Irene Markham and Brian MacKenzie — Tractor Puller.
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