River Valley parish signs construction contract
Anglicans in the Parish of the Nerepis and St. John want just one thing for Christmas: a concrete footing course on which to construct their Church of the Resurrection in the new year. If the weather cooperates, they will have it. At 11:30 on Tuesday morning, Nov. 13, parish and diocesan officials signed a $1.8 million contract with John Flood & Sons to begin construction of their long-awaited worship centre on River Valley Drive in Grand Bay-Westfield.
The contract covers phase one of the 13,200 square-foot building and includes finishing of about 7,100 square feet of the interior ––the bare-bone essentials of a worship space, rooms for Sunday school and other programs, washrooms, some office space, and a roughed-in kitchen. “It will take another $300,000 to finish the entire facility inside,” says the Ven. Vicars Hodge, rector of the parish. But in this first phase we will get finished what we need most urgently. We will finish it all in time.”
Original construction estimates put the cost of the complete facility at about $1.8 million, which the parish raised through individual pledges, grants and loan-guarantees. Bids called earlier this year came in at $2.8 million, not including furniture and fixtures. Architect Doug Kochel literally went back to the drawing board to make the building more affordable. The second round of tenders came in at $2.1 million. The parish divded the construction into two phases and reduced the interior finishing in phase one to meet its budget.
While the first phase will not meet every need, it represents a tremendous improvement over the rented school space where the parish has worshiped for the past few years. Each week brought a new round of lugging and carrying to prepare the theatre for worship and the cafeteria for children’s ministry. Sunday school superintendent Marie Hamilton says “It will be a joy to be in our own place – where we can put up our art – and not have to drag these tote-boxes in and out each week.”
“Now we are preparing for the next set of challenges – the actual construction process and ongoing financial challenges,” says Archdeacon Hodge. “It has been a long row to hoe but there is new life and enthusiasm since the amalgamation of our former struggling parishes. We are excited to be moving forward, not just with the obvious need for a building, but also with the building of a community of faith for tomorrow. Together.”
The beginning of construction brings a the trying period of planning and preparation to a close. Following lengthy and prayerful consultation, the parishes of Ketepec, Grand Bay, Westfield and Greenwich amalgamated in 2003. Stained glass and sacred items were removed from seven church buildings, which were deconsecrated and sold. The new parish in the lower St. John River Valley began to worship in the River Valley Middle School, Grand Bay. Some services also continued at St. Paul’s chapel-of-ease in Oak Point.
“The decision to amalgamate was painful,” says Archdeacon Hodge. “The people of this parish came to grips with the reality of a changed rural environment and the understanding that their previous church buildings had outlived their purpose. Given the current prospects and need to secure growth, they courageously made some difficult but necessary decisions to ensure a future for the Anglican Church in this area.”
