Century-old church may get new roof

A special performance by jazz vocalist and pianist Carol Welsman was held to raise money to replace the deteriorating roof of a cherished 100-year-old Saskatoon church.

Welsman's show, Friday night, was held at the Third Avenue United Church, whose members have been busy raising money to keep the building together.

"The shingles are 50 to 60 years old. so they've hit their wear-out point," Mark Turner, the church's artistic manager, explained. "So those need to come off safely and then be replaced."

The entire project is estimated to cost about $400,000. There was no immediate figure available on how close the church members are, to reaching that goal.

The church is known in Saskatoon for its exceptional acoustic qualities.

"In here, singers can stand on stage and sing and they can hear their sound all the way around them," Turner said. "Pianists can play and not have to work for loud sounds. It's such a pleasure as a musician to be able to have the building."