St. James United Church has stood in the heart of downtown Montreal for nearly 140 years, but its future is now at risk. “We are in a bit of a crisis situation now with regard to our financial situation,” said Rev. Arlen Bonnar of St. James United Church. Chandeliers that don’t work, steps that need repairs, and a deteriorating tower are just some of the problems Bonnar is dealing with. “A stone can move and cost us a half a million dollars. Gotta be done,” said Bonnar. “But, we’re now at the point where we don’t have the resources to do that anymore.” According to him, the repairs will cost millions of dollars and untangling who pays for it is its own challenge, as the church also gets money from Quebec and Ottawa. “It’s complex,” said Bonnar. But for the people who come through its doors, keeping the church open is worth fighting for. Ottawa and Quebec have granted the St. James United Church heritage status. Bonnar says the building’s Gothic Revival architecture attracts thousands of tourists each year. “It represents a really important period of Methodism in Montreal, when it was built, [it was] the largest Methodist church in Canada,” said Taika Baillargeon of Heritage Montreal. For Bonnar, St. James is more than just a historic building. After the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attacks in the U.S., stranded Americans found refuge inside the church. After the Dawson College shooting in 2006, it became a gathering place for the city to mourn. “It’s a place where people can come and be welcomed and find security,” he said. If the church closes, he will have to take his flock somewhere else. Bonnar is holding a special meeting with the congregation on Sunday in the hopes of finding a partner who can step up before the damage gets worse. CTV News reached out to Parks Canada and Quebec’s Ministry of Culture but did not hear back before publication time.
