Many in the community of Morinville, Alta., have missed the bells that used to ring across town at noon and 6 p.m. each day.
Those driving north out of St. Albert may have also noted an absence of the 30-metre steeple on the horizon where St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church once stood.
The 114-year-old church was destroyed by fire in June 2021. Now, the community is breaking ground on a new church they hope to open before Christmas mass in 2025.
Ron Cust, the chair of the church’s building committee, says he’s been a “season-ticket holder” at the church since 1958. He was at the groundbreaking ceremony May 31 and told CBC’s Edmonton AM it felt excellent to finally see the next step taken.
“A small little rain fell as well and the parishioners took that as a blessing from heaven as well for us to move forward.”
Cust is not only a dedicated parishioner but also worked on the initial fire investigation before it was handed off to the RCMP. In a statement, RCMP said that the church fire is considered an arson and remains unsolved.
The new building will cost about $7.8 million. Almost all of the money will be covered through insurance and parishioners are fundraising to make up the difference.
Father Trini Pinca said the new church means something to the whole town, not just the parishioners.
“It’s an icon that you can see that you are home — especially if you have been living in Morinville,” Pinca said. “Rebuilding this church that is somehow similar to what we have lost is very important because it reminds us of what we lost and is a new beginning for every one of us.”
Since the fire, members of the parish have been attending service in a couple of nearby school gymnasiums.
A new take on an old look
Cust said the new church will have modern features on the interior, but hopes to recreate the “solemn grandeur” of the old church, with a smaller 23-metre steeple and High Victorian Gothic features.
“The tricky thing with rebuilding is now people are looking for more modern style … But we wanted to reflect the hundred-and-some-year history and also replace onto the main street a church that would fit in.”
Edmonton AM6:01Morinville church destroyed in arson is being rebuilt
Three years after St. Jean Baptiste Church in Morinville burned down, a ground-breaking ceremony was recently held to mark the official start of construction on a new building.
The new church will have some antique features, including stained glass windows donated from the Mill Woods Presbyterian Church and bells purchased from a church in Quebec City.
“Those types of generous donations, in addition to the monies that are being donated by the parishioners, are helping us to build back the church and the style and the feel that’s going to look like an old church rebuilt,” Cust said.
Pinca said that throughout the process, working with the local schools and other churches has been a positive outcome as they hope to build a church to last at least another 100 years.
“It’s been challenging, but at the same time it has been an occasion for us to gather as a community.”