JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The effort to rebuild St. James Anglican Church in Hudson following a devastating fire in April is progressing well, says a spokesperson for the congregation, with services possibly returning to the 182-year-old church as early as next spring.

There is no solid timeline in place for when parishioners will be welcomed back, said Reverend Sophie Rolland, however, she is hopeful activities could resume by next summer.

“Bit by bit we’re getting things done,” Rolland told The 1019 Report. “Everything might not be finished (by the spring/summer), but we’ll be able to use it.”

Last month, the fire-damaged walls of the adjacent community hall, which was destroyed in the blaze, were torn down, while the stained-glass panels – which were largely untouched by the flames – were carefully removed and stored, and a woodworker was hired to prepare wooden beams and trusses for the new roof of the church.

The focus now is to install a permanent roof over the remaining structure before winter in order to protect the stone foundation and interior of the church, Rolland explained. The church is looking to build a roof that will look identical to the one that was destroyed by the fire. A call for tenders for roof cladding has been issued.

Rolland said the cost of repairs will probably surpass the $5-million insurance coverage the church will receive, necessitating additional fundraising.

“Everything is so expensive right now,” Rolland explained.

As of Sept. 30, the church’s GoFundMe page for the rebuilding effort had raised about $13,000.

The church will organize fundraisers in the coming months to help drum up financial support to defray any outstanding costs “once we get a better sense of how much that $5 million will get us,” Rolland said.