Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Trustees at the Old Hay Bay Church endured the rain Saturday to announce they’d proceed with replacement of the weather-worn exterior of the historic meeting house.
As the 225-year-old building was opened for another summer of tours and events, financial chair Orland French announced that since an announcement last October that $300,000 would be needed for restoration efforts, enough money has been raised to start the work this fall.
“We’ve raised $117,000 in the six month since then, which I think is really good,” he said. “We’re are in a position to go ahead with the first phase — siding, replacement windows, and repointing of the foundation. That doesn’t include the interior of the church.”
French said the clapboard siding on the exterior of the 1792-circa building, which is the oldest surviving Methodist church in Canada outside of the Maritimes, was last replaced in the 1970s. It is dried out and cracked, which allows water to come in around the joints on rainy days like Saturday.
“You can see some of the water damage coming through there,” he said, pointing to the exterior wall.
In getting 39 per cent of the dedicated funding committed, French said the Old Hay Bay Church relied on a number of United Church Women’s groups, men’s clubs, fundraising dinners, and services. The major contribution came from the John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation, which gave $75,000.
“They like old heritage buildings and churches,” he conceded. “We received that money about a month ago. It was a big boost.”
Should the campaign reach its $300,000 target, French said interior plastering would also be considered as well as a makeover of the custodians cottage, which also needs replacement windows and doors. Some work on the grounds and cemetery could also be contemplated.
The effort will require contractors to view the property and quote on the work, particularly as fuel costs have risen in recent months. The sense of the unknown may also drive costs upward.
“We won’t know until we get the walls opened how much work is required there.”
Restoration committee chair Elaine Farley said the committee has sourced four or five contractors it believes might be interested in the job and welcomed them to visit this week. Volunteer custodians will also open the South Shore Road church daily this week between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to allow an opportunity to examine the building.
“Two have expressed interest in visiting and possibly a third one. It’s a national historic site and that must be kept in mind, but I think there’s interest there,” she said, adding a prerequisite will be a knowledge of working with timber-frame buildings.
“One of the things we’ve asked for is they have to have experience and indicate where their experience would be in a building similar to this one so we know if they have a knowledge base should they take something off the wall to find something unseen.”
Farley said it is hoped the contractor will be hired this summer so they can start work in the fall and complete the first phase of the project before the winter weather hits. A link to donate to the project is available online at www.oldhaybaychurch.ca. As of this past weekend, there is also a giant thermometer on the grounds to give passing walkers and motorists an idea of the work.
“We’re kind of hoping that now with the summer and cottagers going by that people who have stopped and visited us who haven’t heard of the campaign yet may want to stop in and contribute to that,” she said.
Farley, who is a direct descendant of two of the church’s builders, said it’s important to preserve the church because it tells a story of a pioneering community coming together.
“The church is an important piece of our history, not just a Methodist history, but as United Empire Loyalists that came and settled the area. Founders were of mixed religions and mixed backgrounds, from business and military,” she said. “It says so much about the history of this area. It’s really important to a lot of people.”
The church will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. into September. It will also be available for private meetings and events. Farley said visitors are also welcome to just come and enjoy the grounds.
“We really welcome people to come out, of all ages, families. The picnic tables are here. We are here and we want people to come and see us. When people get here, they appreciate ambiance of the church and of the water setting.”
Two special events are planned for this summer. On July 21, the church will have its first sunset service at 6:30 p.m. Farley said people often comment about the beautiful sunset coming across the water at Hay Bay, so the event will allow visitors to experience that. Also that day, the United Empire Loyalists Association will dedicate a plaque recognizing the church’s cemetery as a U.E.L. cemetery. Then, on Aug. 26, the annual pilgrimage service will take place at 3 p.m. with Free Methodist minister Gary Walsh visiting as a guest speaker.