Bishop endorses plan to remove former church in St. Philip's

The head of the Anglican church in eastern Newfoundland is throwing his support behind a controversial effort to demolish a former church in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.

In a strongly worded and deeply personal letter to the congregation of the Anglican Parish of St. Philip's on Sunday, Rev. Geoff Peddle, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, said a vast majority of parishioners are in favour of removing the old church with "dignity and care," and he is supportive of a plan by the parish to request a removal permit from the town council.

"The parish leadership, elected and otherwise, to the best of my judgment, are 100 per cent in favour of taking down the old church with dignity and care," Bishop Peddle wrote.

"There is no one in a parish leadership position asking otherwise. An overwhelming percentage of the parishioners agree. I trust their wisdom. I wish that every decision I have before me as bishop affecting a parish had such clarity from the people."

No common ground

The effort to preserve and restore the old church is led by a group called the Church by the Sea Inc., a heritage group formed in 2008. The group wants to see the building preserved as a heritage landmark.

Peddle was named bishop in January, and has held numerous meetings on the issue, hoping to find an amicable resolution.

That did not happen, he said. 

"I regret to inform you that I did not find that common ground," he said.

However, Peddle said his decision must reflect the wisdom of the local community.

"... the ratio in favour of taking down the old church with dignity and care was over eight to one. For every one person who told me they wanted to see the 
old church preserved, there were more than eight who wanted the church removed," said Peddle.

The diocese estimates the cost of moving the old building from the cemetery at some $250,000, and refurbishment at $455,000.

"These are costs that neither the parish nor diocese can afford or are prepared to pay," wrote Peddle.

Peddle appealed to all sides to "treat each other with respect and courtesy" and urged member of the parish to work closely with the rector, Rev. Ed Keeping, in the days ahead.

"I ask everyone that there be no personal attacks ...," said the bishop.

Peddle said he regrets that the debate has been so polarizing, noting that he often felt "shame" when reading about the various developments in the media.

"Regrettable things were said and done and divisions were created that continue to this day, even within families," he said.

"Whatever the outcome to this journey, all of us who belong to this church have already lost something.

Divisive and bitter struggle

It's the latest chapter in a divisive and bitter struggle over the future of the former church, which was built in 1894.

The parish leadership, elected and otherwise, to the best of my judgment, are 100 per cent in favour of taking down the old church with dignity and care.- Bishop Geoff Peddle

It was deconsecrated in September 2006, but there hasn't been a church service in the building since December 2003, the same year a new church building opened not far away.

It has long been the intention of the parish leadership to dispose of the old church. Heating and electrical services and regular maintenance have long been discontinued, and, according to the bishop, the building has "deteriorated immensely."

The parish applied to the town for a demolition order in 2009, touching off several years of rancorous debate that reached all the way to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The debate turned especially ugly in 2010 when someone used a chainsaw to topple the steeple from the building, and matters were again complicated when a former town council designated the structure a municipal heritage building.

The former council also ordered the diocese to repair the old church, but that order was overturned by the Eastern Regional Appeal Board in 2013.

Peddle said there has been a change in leadership at the municipal and parish level, and he's hopeful the application for demolition will receive a "healthy, fair and respectful" public debate.

The parish intends to pursue the creation of a memorial park and columbarium at the site of the old church.

The bishop said this was one of his conditions to allowing the application for demolition to go forward to the town.