50-year-old Halifax church hall coming down at end of summer, forcing daycare, non-profit to move
![St. Mark's Church St. Mark's Anglican Church in Halifax is pictured. (Source: Sean Mott/CTV News Atlantic)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/6/28/st--mark-s-church-1-6945528-1719605165738.jpg)
A nearly 50-year-old church hall in Halifax is coming down at the end of summer, prompting a daycare and a non-profit organization using the space to find new accommodations.
Daphne Beeler, senior warden at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in the north end of Halifax, confirmed Cosmos Properties, which owns the property, will be tearing down the hall adjacent to the church, likely around the end of August.
“They have no intention to tear down the church proper,” Beeler said. “We have a 50-year renewable lease to operate with them. Both of our tenants are able to stay in the space until the end of the summer.
“Through this process we were in a situation where it almost came to a choice to close completely and that would have likely seen the church demolished completely. The deal means the church will still be there as an historic monument.”
The North End Community Day Care Centre and Ward 5 Neighbourhood Centre operated in the hall. According to their websites, the daycare offers programs and rooms for children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years while Ward 5 has provided “inclusive programs and services” for the last 50 years.
Karen Wright, executive director of the daycare centre, said they’re temporarily relocating to Robie Street while they wait to move to their new permanent spot at St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary when it opens in 2025.
“Our expectation is to double our childhood spaces,” Wright said. “Things have lined up and we’re pleased to have signed the lease. This is a feel good story.”
Susan Nordin, program manager with Ward 5, said they can’t say yet where they plan to relocate, but it will be in the north end. They plan to announce a community fundraiser to support the move.
“We want to continue the services we’ve provided to the community,” she said.
Beeler said the St. Mark’s parish was founded in 1866 and officially opened the current church on Russell Street in 1921 after the Halifax Explosion destroyed the original structure in 1917. The hall burnt down in 1974 and it was soon rebuilt.
“We have assurances the hall demolition work won’t impact the church,” she said. “They will do significant renovation to the church for us. We use the hall for fundraisers and receptions and all manner of things, so since we won’t have that space anymore, they are renovating our basement. Going to try to bring it back to a clean slate. We’re taking it as an opportunity to review all the clutter in the building.
“We’re quite excited about the opportunities. We’re really hoping the church can become better used by community organizations. In its current state we can’t really rent the basement. Once it’s renovated we’re hoping we can make it more available.”
Nordin, who has been with Ward 5 for 33 years, said it will be a “sad day” when they have to fully leave the hall at the end of August.
“The amount of people who have been through the organization and the amount of good it’s done is astonishing,” she said.
Beeler noted there were four mainstream churches in the north end before the Halifax explosion; St. Mark’s is now the only one still open.
“We were conscious of being a monument of a post-explosion survival of all those people,” she said. “We didn’t want to leave if we could help it. We really hope it becomes even more part of the community.”
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6877535.1715120774!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Senior charged in shooting of teen on rural property north of Edmonton
A Sturgeon County man has been charged after he allegedly shot a teen over the weekend.
Altercation between 'numerous' golfers on B.C. course broken up by RCMP
Authorities broke up an altercation involving "numerous" golfers at a course in B.C.'s Lower Mainland over the weekend – an incident that was apparently prompted by serious breaches in etiquette.
'He was bigger than life': Former broadcaster Scott Boyd dies at 68
Former Breakfast Television co-host and radio broadcaster Scott Boyd has died at the age of 68.
Judge grants U of T injunction to clear pro-Palestinian encampment from downtown Toronto campus
An Ontario judge has granted the University of Toronto an injunction allowing it to clear out a pro-Palestinian encampment from its downtown Toronto campus
RFK Jr. says he has 'skeletons in my closet' after sexual assault allegation
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday he has 'so many skeletons in my closet,' when asked about an allegation in a Vanity Fair article that he sexually assaulted a former family babysitter.
Eastern Ontario doctor accused of killing four patients acquitted of murder charges, negligence
An eastern Ontario doctor facing four charges of first-degree murder and negligence causing death in connection with the deaths of four seniors at a Hawkesbury hospital was acquitted on all charges at the Ottawa courthouse on Tuesday.
Ontario police seize over $1M in cocaine, $300K in cash in major drug bust
Police in Cornwall, Ont. have seized approximately $1.3 million worth of cocaine and $300,000 in cash as part of a major drugs investigation.
Are fewer Canadians having children? We want to hear from you
Are you choosing not to have children? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.
NHL free agency shows teams in U.S. states with no income tax have an advantage
It's become difficult to deny the impact of favourable tax situations for teams around the NHL.