Twist and turns on the way home

Twist and turns on the way home

Union United Church congregation heading back to 3007 Delisle but will worship at Wesley United for a while

Contact Staff

As it can be at times, the road home takes many a-twist-and-turn. So it is for the congregation of Union United Church as they try to make their way back to 3007 Delisle Street in St. Henri, after four years at their temporary location in NDG.
The March 31 return has been pushed back indefinitely because work on the building, which has been their original place of worship for well over 75 years, is still in progress and contractors are unable to say when it will be completed.
So, according to a statement from Ms. Erene Anthony, chairperson of the church’s official board, the congregation will be worshiping at Wesley United on Cote St. Antoine
(Corner Royal)  in NDG for April and May (if that much time is required.)
She says that Good Friday and Easter celebrations will be joint services with members of Wesley United, but each Sunday following, Union United will have its own service at 12:30 PM.
In 2011 the congregation was forced to vacate its home base because the 115-year-old building had fallen into serious disrepair with a shaky foundation, crumbling walls, leaking roof, mould issues and leaky plumbing.
Now, after four years at the Rosedale United Church in Notre Dame de Grace, the decision has been made to return, but getting the building back to a functional state has turned out to be a very costly initiative.
According to estimates, the repairs are expected to be carried out in two phases, with Phase One (which must be completed before the return), estimated at $1.6 million.
With just over $1 million raised in the Capital Campaign, the congregation is still trying to come up with the remainder to facilitate the much-anticipated move back home.
Ms. Anthony says they expect to go well over the $460,000 draw down loan made available to the church by the Montreal Presbytery.
There is an on-going appeal to businesses and individuals to donate building material such as plywood, gyproc, tiles or paint, all of which will help in completing  Phase 2 of the rebuilding, part of which will attached the manse next door, to the church.
Efforts are also in place to install an elevator in the building to accommodate the needs of  the increasing number of seniors in the church, which currently make up at least 60% of the congregation. And the church is hoping that benefactors will extend a hand to help make it happen.
The Social Media Fundraisng campaign launched late last year will continue throughout 2015 and mailed donations can still be sent to 3007 Delisle , Montreal Quebec H9G H1C 1M8. Tax receipts are generated for donations made on line at
www.unionunitedchurchmtl.ca. Call (514) 932-8731 or (514) 233-3589.