Wellington residents sad but optimistic over closure of P.E.I. community's historic church

A historic church in western Prince Edward Island's Évangéline Region has closed its doors after more than 130 years. 

Wellington United Church has been sold to a new owner, though it's not clear what their plan is for the building.

People in the community said there were only about 10 regular members of the parish left, and that wasn't enough to keep the church going. 

"Sad that we had to come to that agreement," said former church member Christine Arsenault of the decision to sell. 

"It's just a part of Wellington history."

Arsenault got married in the church, and attended many funerals and baptisms there over the years. 

"The church was full back then," she said. "It had a lot of families."

Declining numbers

Arsenault was part of the team that looked into selling the church. She said the decision was just a matter of time, as the number of regular members continued to decline.

"The nail in the coffin was when the furnace broke down," she said. "We had to take a hard look at the finances and how many people were donating to the church and sitting in the pews."

Wellington Mayor Irene MacCaull regularly attended services at the church, but she could also see its closure was inevitable. 

"As the older members passed on, a lot of the children didn't live in the community anymore," she said. "They lived in Summerside or outside the area so that's where they would go, in their own community rather than here."

What comes next?

MacCaull doesn't want to see the church torn down, and hopes it can still be put to good use.

"I'd just like to see it kept neat and tidy," she said. "If apartments are made, that would be great because that means more people would be able to come to the area and the building would still be used."

The rural municipality's chief administrator, Jean-Pierre Arsenault, said at least two apartments could fit inside the church, but some fixes to the sewer system and foundation may be needed. 

The new owner plans to arrive this summer to possibly start work on the building. 

As for the church community, they will attend services at the nearby Victoria West United.