A congregation in Parkland County is looking to give away one of its oldest churches – with the new owner required to move the structure from its current location west of Edmonton.
A landmark for anyone driving west of Highway 16 for more than a century, the church is starting to show its age.
“For the last five years we’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this building,” said Louis Bourassa with Hope Christian Reform Church.
Originally built in 1912 and used until the early ‘70s when the congregation opened a new church – the historic structure was being used for children’s activities, prayer services and weddings until recently.
“It’s such a nice building outside and [people] want to do their weddings in here – it’s sad we can’t use it for that anymore,” Bourassa said.
“There must be water getting in on the steeple portion […] which has gotten worse over the last couple of years,” he explained.
With the upkeep too expensive, the congregation decided to post an ad on Kijii – the building is free and the pews are negotiable.
“Lots of people come and see it, but I think they check into the cost of [moving it] and get cold feet,” Bourassa said.
The ad has been online for nearly a year, but Bourassa said the congregation still holds out hope that someone will save the historic landmark.
“It’s character. It’s history. You don’t want to destroy history,”
The cost to move the structure is estimated to be well over $10,000.
With files from Amanda Anderson
