'It will make a big hole in the community': Historic Nova Scotia church nears demolition deadline
Eglise Sainte Marie in Church Point, N.S., is 185-feet tall and an awe-inspiring structure, but its future is uncertain.
"It is the largest wooden church in North America," said former parish president Andre Valotaire. "It’s also the only church in the world with this style of architecture that is built out of wood."
Valotaire said this church represents the perseverance of the Acadians in the early 1900s.
Construction for the building began in 1905.
"It took two years and two months from the time the corner stone was laid until it was consecrated, and ready for use," said Valotaire, who added there was a time when 1,300 parishioners attended service on a weekly basis.
"We would also get nine tour buses a day stopping in and we would get $80,000 a year in revenue."
Eglise Sainte Marie has been closed for more than three years. The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth recently issued a request for proposals to determine the future use of the property.
According to the document, "if an acceptable proposal that includes maintaining the building is not received, then preference will be even to proposals that give back to the community in some way, including demolition."
The deadline for submissions is at the end of this month.
"Unless some group steps forward with a really super plan, I think the only option is going to be demolition," said Valotaire.
Pierre Comeau led a team to prepare a feasibility study to determine future use of Eglise Sainte Marie.
“We consider this a testament or a monument to the ingenuity of our ancestors who built this magnificent structure,” said Comeau.
The Archdiocese set a three-year deadline to establish a plan.
Following a national search, no company or organization wanted to re-develop Eglise Sainte Marie.
Once the church is deconsecrated and de-registered as a heritage property, it will likely be torn down, erasing nearly 120 years of history.
“It will make a big hole in the community," said Comeau.
The inside of Eglise Sainte Marie in Church Point, N.S., is pictured. (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'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.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'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.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
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.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
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.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.