wfn.org | Vandals torch historic centuries-old Lunenburg Canadian church

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

(Note: this story will appear in the December issue of the Anglican Journal)

Vandals torch historic centuries-old church;
St. John's, Lunenburg, was second oldest church in North America

Steve Proctor

The second oldest Anglican church in North America has been destroyed by
fire, apparently after Halloween mischief.

People in Lunenburg, N.S., wept openly on street corners Nov. 1 as they
watched St. John church, a 247-year-old landmark tucked in the centre of
their South Shore fishing village, gobbled up by flames.

More than 120 firefighters spent 16 hours trying to save the Gothic revival
style building, but in the end the white clapboard church was reduced to
little more than a burned out shell.

"It's a huge loss for the church and the wider community," said Archbishop
Arthur Peters of the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. "St.
John's has always occupied a prominent place within the history and life of
the church and the Lunenburg community.

"We know a church building is not the essence of church, but it does holds
memories, and in this case many years of memories."

Bishop Fred Hiltz, rector of St. John's from 1988 to 1995, was among the
grieving crowd in the community, located an hour southwest of Halifax.

"I loved this building. I loved these people and I just could not stay
home. I felt a need to be here with them," he said.

The church was a designated heritage property and a key part of the town's
1995 designation as a United Nation's heritage site. Its steeple has
appeared prominently  in thousands of  paintings and drawings of the
Lunenburg waterfront.

David Dauphinee, a former parish warden and Lunenburg's deputy mayor,
watched the blaze in horror throughout the night.

"It was like a second home to many of us," he said. "It was always the
focal point of some activity, a concert or a recital. It's hard to believe
it's gone."

The church was built in 1753 with oak beams believed to have come from the
old King's Chapel in Boston. Mr. Dauphinee pegged the financial loss at
around $5 million.

Firefighters responded to 22 minor fires within the town on Halloween
night.  Fire Chief Terry Conrad said it looked like the fire at the church
had been deliberately set.

RCMP Cpl. Mark Furey said groups of up to 40 people roamed through town on
Halloween. They believe individuals among those groups know who is
responsible.

Rev. Irving Letto, St. John's rector for the past two years, said his 1,100
parishioners are shocked, angry and sad.

"People are in different places," he said as firefighters carried out any
old Bibles, statues and wooden crosses that could be salvaged. "But at
least 50 people came up to me and said  a church is just a building. The
congregation is still strong and will carry on."

To underscore the point, Rev. Letto held a special service in the undamaged
church hall just hours after the flames were extinguished.

The fact that he could preach from intricately carved oak altar rescued
from the blaze was great solace to many of the bereaved, he said.

Archbishop Peters said despite the tragedy, he confident that in time the
people of St. John's will regroup, refocus and create a new vision.

"They are very resilient. As a fishing village, they have faced tragedy in
the past as have most fishing villages. They are pioneers and have
experience with meeting the challenges."

There will be lots of discussion before a future course is set, but talk of
rebuilding had begun even before the flames were extinguished.

____
Steve Proctor is a journalist based in Truro, N.S.

Link:

History of St. John's from the town of Lunenburg's website
<http://www.town.lunenburg.ns.ca/pages/history/architecture/anglican.html#top>

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