Two N.S. churches are only Maritime finalists remaining in heritage competition | CBC News
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Église Sainte-Marie in Church Point, N.S., and the Trinity Anglican Church in Digby are the only remaining finalists from the Maritimes in a national competition for a $50,000 grand prize to protect their building’s heritage.
The National Trust for Canada is holding the Next Great Save competition. There are 12 finalists overall.
The Trinity church is trying to save its iconic rose window, known as “The Children’s Window.” The window was designed in England while the church was being built in the late 1870s.
The plaster on the inside of the church has deteriorated over the years, as have the wooden clapboards on the outside, leading to concerns about possible harm to the window.
“It’s such an iconic place in Digby,” says church warden Colleen Humbert. She has a personal connection to the site, having married her husband there after moving to the town a decade ago.
Humbert says the prize money would jumpstart necessary restoration. It would ensure the building continues to be a gathering place for the whole town and not just a place of worship.
“We do our best to have community events there, such as concerts,” says Humbert. “We think of it as … one of the most centrally important buildings in our town.”
Église Sainte-Marie is no different. Recognized as the tallest wooden church in North America, the building serves as a pillar of Acadian heritage and a symbol of the community’s identity.
The building has faced the possibility of demolition for years. Built in the early 1900s, it was slated to be torn down last year. It’s now making a comeback, says Stéphanie St-Pierre, the co-founder and co-president of the Association Sainte-Marie Héritage et Développement.
Of the many required repairs, St-Pierre says the most symbolic for the community would be hearing the church bells ring once again.
“I think that it’s so important for us to understand that within the Acadian community, built heritage sometimes is religious, but it’s still built heritage and it was built by the community for the community,” she says.
As a community hub, the church was even a regular site of Université Sainte-Anne graduations until 2019.
Starting April 7, Canadians can cast their votes online to help decide which heritage project wins the grand prize. The winner will be announced on April 24.
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