HALIFAX - Residents of Africville gathered in Halifax to celebrate the rebuilding of a church they say was the heart of their community.

Although the construction isn't quite complete, the reopening of the church has been a long time coming for Irvine Carvery with the Africville Genealogy Society who says, "it has been quite a journey."

For almost three decades, Carvery worked toward the rebuilding of a replica of the Seaview Baptist Church. On Sunday it became a reality for Carvery, "that's what's so important about this, that our legacy will live on forever and it's so important because of the rich history of Africville that can not die."

The rich history dates back to the early nineteenth century. However, the history has also been filled with hardship for those who lived there and endured racism at its worst. In the late 1960s, residents were evicted from their homes, and their village was bulldozed to make way for the A. Murray Mackay Bridge. Their church was also destroyed. It brings back a flood of memories for Carvery, "to see it restored once again means everything to a lot of us."

For many, the day wasn't just about the reopening of a church, it was also about the rebirth of a community. Crystal John says, "a lot of times people lose their home and they lose their way and they never get it back. I feel like the church here will start to connect people back together." According to Mayor Peter Kelly, that makes it a historic day, "it's one that this community will never forget and one that I'll never forget. It's one that we must always remember what's occurred and assure it never happens again."

For others, it's a small step toward restoring justice for the wrongs of the past. Wayne Dixon says, "that's a step, but I think the people that lived there, most of them are gone. But I think the people that are still alive that can prove they're originally from Africville should have some kind of compensation." But Carvery says it's now time for the community to move on and look to the future.

It's hoped an interpretive centre will be built beside the church within the next two years.

With files from CTV's Garreth MacDonald.