Historic Moose Jaw church will remain a house of worship after sale

WATCH: The historic St. Andrews United Church in Moose Jaw will remain a religious facility after its sale. Wayne Mantyka has the story.

The historic St. Andrews United Church building in downtown Moose Jaw has been sold. However, it will remain a place of worship under its new owners.

Volunteers from Victory Church have already started minor renovations on their new worship space at 60 Athabasca St. E.

“Well, we’re excited for the new space and we’re going to have church as normal, kind of the Victory style,” explained associate pastor Dave Boisclair.

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St. Andrew’s was constructed in the early 1900’s to seat 750 people.

Declining attendance in recent years prompted the sale. Victory Church is located just across the alley and was bursting at the seams – with an average Sunday attendance of 800 people.

“We’ve been on this incredible growth journey and we’re at three services now at our current facility and we’re planning on going to four services,” senior pastor Jesse Bourassa added.

Victory Church is known for a modern style of worship. Moving into a century-old setting will require some modifications, primarily on the technical side.

“Acoustics are going to be our biggest challenge,” said Ojey Calolot, the Sunday experience director with Victory Church.

“It’s going to be a lot because that room, I believe, is made for the organ and a cappella music for choirs and with us we’ll be using electric instruments which will really be a challenge but we’re getting professional engineers to help us.”

The building had been listed for sale at $1.2 million. Victory Church paid just $750,000.

“What our congregation is used to is not the grand cathedral-style, but we’re excited to step into that to try something new – and for us this is new,” Bourassa added.

Victory Church feels it would’ve been a shame had the building been significantly altered and transformed for another use.

The church is pleased to play a role in maintaining the venue for its intended purpose as a house of worship.