- St Bernard Church in southwestern Nova Scotia, about 35 km southwest of Digby, was listed for sale at $250,000.
- It took 32 years to build and was completed in 1942, using more than 8,000 granite blocks.
- The church was deconsecrated and officially closed in summer 2022.
- Estimated repairs exceed $1 million for the roof, water system and interior.
A huge granite church in Nova Scotia has gone on the market. Global News, carrying a Canadian Press report, said the deconsecrated St Bernard Church in Nova Scotia’s Acadian community was up for sale.
The church stands in St Bernard, about 35 km southwest of Digby. Building it took 32 years and was completed in 1942. More than 8,000 granite blocks were brought from Shelburne by railway and oxen, and Douglas fir plywood from British Columbia was used for the pews and wall panels. The interior covers 1,300 square metres, with 28,000 cubic metres of space under its roof.
Before it closed, 30 to 40 people attended each Mass. The church was deconsecrated and officially closed in summer 2022, and it was listed with Re/Max at $250,000. The catch is the cost of upkeep: repairs to the roof, water system and interior are estimated at more than $1 million.
Former parish treasurer Suzanne Lefort said: “One part of the roof should be shingled, but because of the height you’d need cranes.” Jean Le Blanc, president of the local heritage society, said: “Hopefully, if somebody does buy it we (the community) will have some input.”
The listing shows why the asking price of an old church can be the smallest part of its cost. A $250,000 building with more than $1 million of repairs is a very different proposition from a $250,000 house. Jamaican buyers, including returning residents attracted to historic stone churches or great houses, should get a full structural survey and repair estimate before making an offer, and think about how the building will earn its keep. Community groups hoping to save a landmark need a funding plan for maintenance, not just for the purchase.
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