A 140-year-old church in the heart of uptown Saint John that was built in the wake of the Great Fire could be yours at a cost of $249,000.
The Church of Saint Andrew and Saint David at 164 Germain Street which dates back to 1878 has been listed for sale.
Chair of the board of trustees for the church Terre Hunter says it wasn’t an easy decision.
“The reality for us is, it’s a big old building. Our numbers as a congregation are shrinking,” says Hunter. “We just really, finally came to the realization that we could better spend our human resource assets and our financial resources in a better way.”
Hunter wants to emphasize that it’s very much business as usual for the congregation which is continuing. We’re told while they don’t know where they’re going to go, they do want to remain in the South Central Peninsula.
“Folks have a very emotional attachment to that building and so, yes, it will be difficult. But I think most folks have reconciled themselves to the fact that it’s time,” says Hunter.
Realtor Bob McVicar says the building could become any number of things though admittedly is a ‘bit more of a challenge to repurpose’ than some other buildings.
“It’s not that big of a building and it could be converted into residential,” says McVicar. “It could be a great artistic space.”
