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Église Sainte-Marie in Church Point, N.S., has won $50,000 in a national competition.
The official announcement in the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save competition was made Friday.
Recognized as the tallest wooden church in North America, it serves as a symbol of Acadian heritage and community identity.
The building faced the prospect of demolition last year, but the Association Sainte-Marie Héritage et Développement successfully advocated to preserve its provincial heritage status.
Stéphanie St-Pierre, the association’s co-founder and co-president, said the money will go toward urgent repairs.
These include fixing a large front window currently patched with plywood, repairing a leaning spire on a side tower, and reattaching ornamental woodwork that is falling off due to failing fasteners.
The project also includes repairing the bell system. St-Pierre said the community hopes to hear the bells ring for the first time in years on Aug. 15, the Acadian national holiday.
St-Pierre welcomed the money but said the full restoration will take years.
“The final price tag will be a few million dollars for sure,” she said.
She added that the association is taking a phased approach, working to stop deterioration first.
The building and Trinity Anglican Church in Digby were the only Maritime finalists in the competition.
“Thank you to everyone who voted every day, who were enthusiastic about this project,” she said. “We are so incredibly grateful.”
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