The future is uncertain for Saint John’s iconic Trinity Anglican Church as it faces a declining congregation and growing financial burden.
“We’ve had financial difficulties for quite a while,” says Rev. John Paul Westin. “I mean, it’s been going on for many years, but it’s kind of come to a critical point.”
The once-healthy congregation has dwindled in recent years to around 40 people, which isn’t enough to keep the church up and running.
“The best-case scenario is we’d be able to save the building and be able to use it in some form, but we do not believe that would be exclusively as a worshipping venue for our congregation,” says Westin.
Another Anglican church across the Saint John Harbour Bridge was facing a similar situation, but it saw a different outcome. St. George’s Anglican Church closed its doors last year after its congregation dwindled, but it has since reopened as a wedding chapel and restaurant.
Saint John businessman David McCashion is part of the group that bought the church. He says business has been good, but they are struggling to drop the building’s historic designation.
“Over the last year, trying to even just get people to give us quotes on doing work on the restoration was difficult,” says McCashion. “As soon as they found out it was heritage, it was much more expensive, and most of them didn’t want to touch it.”
McCashion says they have submitted a request to council that the building’s historic designation be removed and they are only one step away from their goal.
Meanwhile, Trinity Anglican is hoping someone will come forward and save the building from having to closes its doors for good.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford
