For nearly nine decades it stood as a humble symbol of faith.
Now Cranberry Portage’s historic Canadian Martyrs Roman Catholic Mission Church is no more.
Crews demolished the landmark structure Monday morning, its congregation unable to afford repairs to bring it up to standard.
“It tugged at our hearts and we really hated to remove it,” said congregation member Gerard Jennissen, “…but we finally made that decision.
“It has tremendous historical value for us, but we just couldn’t in good conscience leave it, because it was unsafe.”
Jennissen said the building hadn’t been used in about two years. It was poorly insulated and its floor was collapsing, he said.
As an alternative, the congregation began attending services at the neighbouring Catholic Centre. They will continue to worship there.
The centre had previously served as a meeting place for churchgoers and a community venue for local groups.
Jennissen, a former Flin Flon MLA, said the church “looked at everything” to try to keep the “decaying” church functional.
Replacing the church would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said, and with only two young families in the aging congregation, “we couldn’t see basis for growth in the future.”
Jennissen said he’s sure not everyone agreed with the decision to demolish the church, which was built in 1930.
He said the congregation saved the bell and some pews from the old building and is now looking to install a steeple on the Catholic Centre.
Jennissen said the church has an average weekly attendance of 12 to 20 worshippers. It is one of two operating churches in Cranberry Portage.
