As Church membership throughout the country decreases, the spaces of faith in London are finding new ways to maintain their lights on and at the same time state as important reference points in the community.
A study by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) found that a third of the 27,000 Faith spaces of Canada are expected to close this decade, which the institute says that it will leave a gap in neighborhoods that harms religious and secular communities.
“[Churches] Playing a really important role as a civic function, “said CUI president Mary Rowe, CBC London tomorrow On Wednesday. “They are where community meetings occur and cultural events occur. All kinds of different types of civic uses have taken place in the properties of the church for years.”
“Even if the congregations can no longer afford, financial or physically, the real function of the Church, we do not want to lose those civic spaces,” he said.
The study of CU found that beyond worship, Canadian churches also house non -profit organizations, community kitchens and food pantries. The study discovered that 84 percent of the 900 non -profit organizations that Churches use in southern Ontario do not have alternative places to go.
On Wednesday, Colborne Street United Church, near the center of London, was home to a children’s theater camp, an anonymous meeting of Alcoholics and a social group of women administered by the Church.
“It is partly part of the community. It is a place for people to join and do what they would like to do,” said the manager of the Norma-Jean Greenslade Church office.
However, Greenslade said that opening space to external organizations is also a way for the church to win money and use the vacancy as membership decreases.
“Most churches are having a decrease in congregations, which also means a decrease in donation income,” Greenslade said. “Having the space available during the week helps us to keep our doors open.”
Cheap rental, near the essential elements of the neighborhood
London-Middlesex Ontario Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most frequent users of the churches of southwest Ontario, with about 60 groups that meet several times a week, the organization said.
Great Big Theater Company, a non -confessional non -profit organization, organizes all its Ontario summer camps in Iglesias this year.
“We really like the big space. We have a lot of different rooms and a gym to organize our great show at the end of the week,” said Jadeyn Lawrence camp, who teaches the camp in the United Street United Church. “It is also the center, so it is very accessible to public transport … [and] It is very close to the parks, so we can take a walk when we need a break. ”
Greenslade agreed that part of the appeal so that community groups meet within a church is their proximity to other essential elements of the neighborhood, as well as the low cost of renting a room.
“We simply have a flat rate, and we negotiate with each group that enters and we know them where they are,” said Greenslade, adding that the church is also home to a nursery and a quilters group.
CUI’s study found that other Canadian forms have turned their buildings include opening concert spaces, add art exhibitions and build a rock climb wall.
The oldest church in London, the Cathedral of San Pablo, recently completed the important renovations to become a center of music and arts in the center.
The Diocese of London said that although none of its churches is currently at risk of closing, they carry out support groups that wish to rent space, including the Alzheimer’s society, a group of exercises for older people and dance classes.
‘You never recover the space of the community’
It is important that the churches adapt early, Rowe said, because if not, they run the risk of having gone forever.
London tomorrowThe oldest church in London has been reimagined
The San Pablo Cathedral is one of London’s most recognizable buildings, and is about to enter a new bold chapter. Kevin George, dean of Huron and rector of the cathedral of St. Paul, told London Morning about plans to open his space for performing arts, meetings and more.
“In hot real estate markets, a church building will be seen as main real estate to be developed again in luxury homes. You never recover the space of the community when that happens,” he said. “In less active real estate markets … when there are no resources to rebuild, it loses churches to neglect.”
“The argument we are doing is that these are active and need to be reused in a reflexively and imaginative way because they are not, they will demolish,” he said.
Greenslade said that the future of the churches in Canada depends on their ability to adapt.
“Churches need to be multiple. They need to expand to almost community centers,” said Greenslade. “Hopefully more churches can do that.”
