Halifax church closing after final mass on Sunday
St. John the Baptist Church has been a central part of the Armdale community for nearly a century, but after mass on Sunday, it will be closing its doors.
Parishioner Alain Godbout gives tours of the church on Purcell's Cove Road in Halifax, but not for much longer.
"It’s got German stained glass, Italian statues, incredible woodwork," Godbout said. "This church, this particular one, has been struggling for a decade."
Combine the dwindling congregation with the pandemic and the diocese didn't have a choice.
The church opened in 1929. Before that, it was used as a powder magazine during the First World War. It has been a significant part of the community since.
"The stained glass windows always tell the story of religion," says historian Blair Beed. "We have a mayor of Halifax who is remembered, who is the mayor of Halifax at the time of the Halifax explosion, and then died when he was a senator."
The church will be sold, but it's too soon to speculate about what will happen to its contents.
"Maybe they can become something meaningful in the community other than a regular church," Godbout said. "So, that could be a community centre, it could be a residential development of this space."
Another parishioner, Brenda Boudreau, wishes something could be done to preserve the church.
"I think it’s sad that it’s going to close," Boudreau said. "Maybe that’s what should happen, maybe it should be kept open as a museum."
The final mass at St. John The Baptist Church will be Sunday at 4 p.m. and it will be filled to the maximum allowable capacity under the COVID-19 protocols.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.