When St. Hilda’s congregation left the Diocese of Niagara in 2008, bishops Spence and Bird sent the congregation a letter saying, among other things: “be assured that we are prepared to keep the doors of this beautiful church open and will offer every support and pastoral care to those who choose to stay.”
Five years later, not only are the doors not open, but the church has been barricaded with concrete blocks large enough to serve as tank traps.
Yesterday morning after a friend passed the building, she phoned me to let me know that there were three police cars in the driveway along with another car containing someone bearing a strong resemblance to Dean Peter Wall. I suspect that either someone had broken in and was squatting – in which case the diocese would have nothing to complain of since it is so keen on Occupy – or there had been an act of vandalism.
The back door does have some new decoration:
I can’t decide whether the symbol represents something satanic or is a new diocesan emblem.
In other parts of the property weeds have taken over what used to be attractive gardens:
It’s just as well the church sign is still announcing who is responsible for the empty, disintegrating, graffiti besmirched shell:
Here are the inviting concrete blocks in all their inclusive splendour:
I have to wonder what the municipal property tax implications might be, considering that the property is not actually being used as a place of worship? If it is now being held for sale, than might it not be considered an “investment property”, and subject to taxation? And not just municipal property tax, but also capital gains tax when it finally is sold.
Also have to wonder about the insurance. Seeing as the building is not being occupied, what effect is there on the insurance coverage and costs?
I can no longer drive by the building on Rebecca Street, and so avoid going that way should I need to go east. I’ve only been with the good people of St.Hilda’s since Dec. of 09, and it breaks my heart to see this former temple of God being destroyed by such sin.
What then must be the hurt on the hearts of those who spent a lifetime sacrificing to build it,worshiping there and praying, learning, teaching, being saved, being baptized, being married, and being sanctified within the walls of this former temple of God?
All the more to understand and appreciate their obedience to God, and His Holy Word, rather than remain within a structure that compromises the conscience of a follower of Lord Jesus. Perhaps the one with most to lose in all of this, our blessed Pastor Paul, put it best when he said:
We are home-less, but not church-less.
We the people are His church.
And with God’s help, we will continue to show the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ, and continue with all our ministries, preaching and teaching the Gospel, and sharing the love of God in our community.
We are grateful followers of Christ Jesus and we thank God for what we are going through, and we thank Pastor Paul for his steadfastness, and the words above by which we continue on in obedient and humble service to our Lord Jesus.