The congregation of Christ Church, Stouffville gathered for a celebration following the main Sunday service on Jan. 11 to mark the repayment of the mortgage loan that was taken out to help fund the expansion of the church building in 2005-2006. The total cost of the expansion 20 years ago was about $1.8 million. This was funded through a generous grant of $800,000 from the diocese and an incredibly successful parish fundraising campaign that raised more than $500,000. The balance was provided by a mortgage loan that was to be repaid by June 2027. Christ Church members contributed faithfully towards the repayment of this borrowing over the years. This past December, a very generous parish couple made a significant contribution that enabled the parish corporation to fully discharge the loan 18 months ahead of schedule.
Twenty years ago, parishioners realized that the existing facility was inadequate for their needs. The sanctuary, built less than 20 years prior, was large enough, but the supporting infrastructure – the hall, the kitchen, the meeting rooms, etc. – did not provide the necessary space to accommodate current and future activities. Accordingly, the parish began a multi-year program of consultation, fundraising and planning to prepare the way for a building expansion on vacant church-owned land. The expansion included a large auditorium complete with stage, commercial kitchen, meeting rooms, atrium and a connecting corridor to the existing building. In addition, the upper floor of the old building (the original sanctuary then functioning as the parish hall) was completely renovated to provide much-needed administrative offices. The expansion offers space for both church and community groups to meet. The building also hosts a childcare facility that provides a much-needed service to the local Stouffville community, as well as generating revenue for the parish.
At the celebratory luncheon on Jan. 11, I gave a brief history of the building project and loan, the rector’s warden, Cynthia Paulikot, and the people’s warden, Wayne Kerr, shredded the mortgage (a true burning wasn’t possible since the event was held indoors), the Rev. Canon Lisa Newland, incumbent, offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” was sung. Thanks were also given to Linda Hadaway for organizing the luncheon. For the first time in decades, Christ Church, Stouffville is now debt free! We look forward to the new ministry possibilities God is calling us to as we begin this next chapter.
