Loading...
The Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-07-01, Page 7Wednesday, July 1, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 7 Local Charity announce ownership of Historic Church St. Joseph's Kingsbridge Community Sheila Pritchard Committee officials for the regis- tered charitable organization, St. Joseph's Kingsbridge Community (SJKC), have announced that as of June 26th, the organization will receive formal ownership of St. Joseph's Church from the Diocese of London. SJKC representatives say posses- sion of the church signifies the reestablishment of their "commu- nity hub',' and will provide contin- ued growth and vibrancy within the community. After closure of the church was ordered by the diocese in October 2012 due to the high costs of bringing the building up to cur- rent safety codes, there was much public objection and outcry. Consequently, a volunteer group of St. Joseph Parish members established SJKC to purchase the church for $1 from the diocese with the goal of restor- ing the structure and preserving the 100 -year old heritage building, along with the sense of commu- nity it provided. "The plan came about, and we had three posts to that plan: one being that we first become a charity, one being that we would develop a rehabilitation plan, and the third one being to see if we could come up with funds," says Jim Van Osch, committee member of SJKC. "All of them have exceeded our expectations." To date, SJKC has been success- ful in fundraising efforts to cover the $180,000 price tag of resuscitat- ing the large building in order to open its doors to the public once more. Masses will no longer be taking place at the church, but SJKC will be promoting the use of the space for rental and to provide community services and programs once health and safety issues have been addressed. SJKC officials say they believe their investment in the church will revive the strong sense of commu- nity it once fostered and breathe new life into the area by providing regular services and by hosting various social, cultural, and artis- tic activities and programs for local residents, cottagers and visi- tors to the area. The organization hopes people will "share the vision." The space will be available for weddings, memorials, ecumenical prayer services and meetings, with the option to enhance celebra- tions with the St. Joseph's choir. The adjacent four-bedroom rec- tory will also be available for rental and retreats, while the church hall will be available for receptions, dances, parties, sup- pers and other events. Some of the activities and pro- grams, which SJKC's sub -organization, Kingsbridge on 21, will coordinate, include a sum- mer concert series and a cultural hub to showcase the talents of local musical, dramatic and visual art- ists. As a heritage centre of the area, historical exhibits featuring origi- nal artifacts and pieces from throughout the years will be on dis- play in the church. The church, located on Highway 21 in Kingsbridge, was constructed in 1903 and its official opening fol- lowed in 1905. Since the turn of the 20th Century, the large Gothic Revival -style edifice has stood as a symbol of faith and community fellowship. "The church was built by the community," says Van Osch. "So I think we're getting back to the roots of it." For more information about SJKC and its vision, please visit www.stjosephskingsbridge.com Or visit the St. Joseph's Kings- bridge Community Facebook page .f. • 4110,7 A <. Submitted The St. Joseph's Kingsbridge Commnity have completed the purchase of St. Joseph's Church. Volunteer representatives worked hard to make this happen to reestablish their community hub. From left: Shawn Dalton, Jackie Simpson, Bridget VanOsch, Steve Van Osch, Marianne Hogan, Lawrence Hogan, Jennifer Miltenburg, Don Miltenburg, Barb Hogan, Patrick Miltenburg, Terrie VanOsch, Jim Van Osch. Hong Kong professional finds the church that sponsored her as a child Trinity United Church to meet their effect that would have on the child in the community. The congrega- tion had always wondered what child had become of the donations and what had become of their child, Valerie Gillies but they had no way to know until Lucknow Sentinel now. For security reasons, all corre- In the 1980's the Sunday School spondence to the child, Mui -ling classes of Trinity United Church in SO had the contact information of Ashfield Township decided to the sponsors masked. Alton sponsor a child in another country believes this was to ensure that through the United Church of Can- the people being sponsored could ada as a project. The program not demand more from the allowed each church to pick one sponsors. child that they would sponsor. In February, 2015, the Lucknow Ruth Alton, spokesperson for United Church received an e-mail Trinity United Church, says that from Mui -ling SO who had been once a month the Sunday School researching and going back would take up a special collection through all of the letters she had to sponsor their child in Hong received for clues to try to recon - Kong. Alton adds, "I am sure nect with her sponsors to thank some of the adults made contri- them for all their help. She could butions, as well." The sponsorship make out on some of the corre- was kept up as long as they could, spondence that her sponsor was which was for about eight years. Trinity United Church and a partial Hannie Scott looked after all of address which included Lucknow. the correspondence to send the She gave as many clues as she donations, as well as gifts that could to track down anyone in were sent for birthdays and at Canada who could help. Christmas. In her message, Mui -ling SO Alton, as well as others in the asked for assistance in finding congregation, always had mixed "the group of members" of Trinity feelings about sponsoring just one United Church, "who was my child. They wondered what that long-time education sponsor. would mean to the neighbours of Through a Hong Kong church's the sponsored child and what Child Sponsorship Scheme, they vijv HEARTS' STROKE •C4lnoar *Y ASSESS YOUR RISK. MAKE HEALTH LAST CA had donated to support my pri- mary and secondary schooling for more than eight years, from 1980 to 1988." She goes on to state, "I really want to give them my sin- cere thanks in person and let them know. With their generous sup- port, I finally went to the univer- sity and finished my two degrees in journalism and business administration. Since 1990s, I have been trying my best to contribute back to the community, starting my career as a journalist, then a disaster management officer in China, a NGO worker, and at pre- sent, an European private founda- tion's grant manager, also a mother of two kids." The Lucknow United Church forwarded the e-mail on to Trin- ity and a reply was sent to Mui - ling SO that they were happy to hear that she had done so well. Through further correspondence, it was arranged that Mui -ling So and her family will be visiting Canada during their summer 1 1 CaOLiEI UU- z. 24 x.51: FOR MOVIE INFORMATION.,. wino.movieliEriks.ca u Nvv....L -SOO-265-343E1 school break and will be meeting with as many of the members of the sponsoring Sunday School classes as can be found and can make it. A reception will be held at Trinity United Church in early July for the meeting. During their stay in Luc - know, they will be based in Ruth Alton's home with other members of a committee helping with meals and taking the family to see the sights. In 1986, a Sunday School photo had been taken at Trinity United Church on Easter Sunday and sent to Mui -ling SO with the names included. It was from this photo that invitations have been going out to attend the reception. It would be appreciated if anyone can help with contact information or if it is known if there were others LET'S ALL DO Ak OUR RA! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER Sylvia's Retiring! It's the last season Fantastic Closing Sale 50% off - July 3-10 Sprza9 Eteelat peeAdeuael Now Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm Thursday and Friday 9 am - 8 pm Closed Sundays 83189 Scott Line, RR 3 Blyth (North Huron) 519-523-9456 involved who may have been missed in the photo during the sponsorship years. The photo is very poor quality and will not be printed. The names of those in the 1986 photo are: Dillon Moore, Heather Irvin, Lindsay Irvin, Shawn Ritchie, Lee Cranston, Kyle Far- rish, Patrick Ritchie, Brent Cam- eron, Katherine Alton, Heather Alton, Danielle Cranston, David Cameron, Shelley Irvin, Krista Ritchie, Cayley Moore, Carolyn Adrew, Sandra Alton, Jeff Andrew, Denise Andrew, Mac Hackett, Eric Andrew, Kim Farrish, Warren Andrew, Michael McCann, Chris Farrish, Doug Helm, Patrick McCann, Vanessa Alton, Scott Hackett, Jamie Alton, Dianne Ray- mond, Janine Helm, Shauna Andrew. 50th Wedding Anniversary Glen & Lois Walden � 1M IT. ".y r Open House Sunday, July 12th, 2015 2-4 pm Lucknow United Church Best Wishes only. Your presence is your gift.