 Media Release Diocese of Fredericton 20 July 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Anglican Church and Saint John Non Profit Housing Partner SAINT JOHN NB - The Anglican Diocese of Fredericton announced today a partnership with the City of Saint John Non Profit Housing Inc. (SJNPH) to find a reuse for historical St. James Church in the City's South End. The partnership includes the beginning of a project to construct four low-rental housing units at the rear of the lot. The development will take the place of the Parish Hall which was scheduled for demolition some time ago due to its deteriorating condition. SJNPH is is a non-profit group with a mandate to provide housing for the benefit of citizens of Saint John. The agreement is scheduled to be finalized this week. "Initial conversations with SJNPH began late last year," said Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall speaking on behalf of the Diocese of Fredericton. "We're pleased and excited about the possibilities of the church property continuing to serve the community." The partnership outlines the deeding of the lot once occupied by the church hall to SJNPH for immediate housing development. The reuse of the church building itself will be the goal of further collaboration between the Church and SJNPH over the next months. "We're looking for a reuse of St. James Church that will serve the community and at the same time honour the heritage of the building which has been such a familiar component of the skyline of that part of the City for so many years," said Archdeacon Hall. A final closing service of celebration was held at St. James' in November of 2005. St. James' Church was deconsecrated as a place of Anglican worship by Bishop Claude Miller on 05 June 2006. -30-
Contact Ana Watts Communications Officer Diocese of Fredericton 506/459-5358 ana.watts@anglican.nb.ca |