Old Anglican church in St. Philip's a step closer to demolition

Town staff in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's have been ordered to issue a demolition permit for an 120-year-old former Anglican church in the community.

The town council approved the tear-down of the old church in St. Philip's last April, pending a number of conditions, which have now been satisfied.

The actual demolition is predicted to take place this fall.

• Portugal Cove-St. Philip's approves tearing down old church
• Bishop endorses plan to remove former church in St. Philip's

The effort to demolish the church has been a source of controversy in the community for the past five years.

Townspeople and historians fought to save and restore the structure, even while the head of the Anglican church for eastern Newfoundland endorsed tearing it down.

The town had proposed to preserve at least part of the building, but received no response from the local parish or the archdiocese.