EDMONTON – The years have not been kind on McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton. Costly repairs nearly spelled the end for the 105-year-old church. At the 11th hour, the province offered $750,000 and the city committed $500,000 towards restoration.
The first phase of work began Thursday and will focus on the south tower.
“The top of the south tower has been sagging and we’re making sure it doesn’t sag any more,” said Rob McLauchlin with the McDougall Church building committee. “That has to be done so it can withstand the winter.”
He explained the tower is aging, the brick work needs attention and some of the cornices are slightly unstable.
The work on the tower is expected to take a few days but more repair work is expected to start in the spring.
The church continues with fundraising efforts to help cover restoration work.
READ MORE: Soaring cost of repairs could spell the end for historic Edmonton church
In addition to Sunday services, McDougall is used for weddings, funerals and all kinds of musical events and rehearsals.
In April, the province announced it would help establish a fundraising strategy and kick-started it with $750,000 while the church sought historic designation.
READ MORE: One final push to save historic McDougall Church
A team including people from the Friends of the McDougall United Church, leaders of the city’s arts, heritage and business communities, the city, province and McDougall officials will work on a fundraising strategy for the long-term preservation of the church.
In February, a city report showed the cost of repairing the church had more than doubled from a previous estimate. The latest bill was pegged at between $18.4 million and $25.5 million. However, church officials now say they don’t think the repairs will end up costing that much.
McLauchlin said the church already has the money from the province and is hoping to see the money committed by the city soon.
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