Case Study: St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community
The making of a rural community hub: The Kingsbridge community comes together to give a new life to their former Cathedral near Goderich, ON.
The Spark
Faced with the closure of the Kingsbridge Cathedral in 2012, the 300-person strong congregation rallied together with others from the local community to save this landmark building. They quickly formed a not-for-profit corporation, the St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community (SJKC), with the goal of creating a multi-use facility that would serve as a community hub, incorporating faith, arts, and community gatherings.
The spire of the handsome 1905 gothic revival structure stands out in the expanse of the neighbouring farm land.
Their Journey
Over the next two years, the SJKC Board negotiated an agreement with the Catholic Diocese of London to purchase for $1 one acre of land that include the Cathedral and the manse. This exceptional agreement was reached in part due to a strong advocacy effort by the community, which included visits to the Diocese by the former congregation’s youth group, as well as significant coverage from local media outlets.
During this period before they acquired the site in 2014, the SJKC also undertook many other actions that were vital to the success of their regeneration project:
- They held community meetings to gauge support and get feedback on potential uses.
- They fundraised $180,000 in pledges as well as pledges of materials and in kind work in the form of construction, electrical and plumbing from licensed contractors in the community. This included the production of a simple yet effective fundraising video posted on YouTube.
- They began pursuing grants and funding from many sources, for all aspects of the project.
- They developed detailed budgets and renovation plans to hit the ground running once they obtained ownership.
- Recognizing the large scope of their regeneration project, they revised their organizational structure to separate responsibilities for the physical building from the activity programming.
Renovations began in 2015 and in their first year they completed an impressive amount of work: installation of a new raised stage and theatrical lighting in the sanctuary, exterior masonry repointing, storm window re-glazing, a new emergency exit and fire alarm system, electrical upgrades, and installation of new HVAC system. Construction work has continued in coordinated phases to improve the functionality and accessibility of the building.
Outcomes
Critical to the success of this project so far has been the hundreds of active volunteers that have donated thousands of hours to complete most of the work. Partnerships with local governments and businesses have resulted in donated funds, building materials, and in-kind services.
And despite this beehive of renovation activity, the team has managed to increase the community’s use of the renovated spaces by programming many concerts, meetings, ecumenical prayer services, choir practices, and yoga classes – generating a stable source of revenue for their operations.
While the SJKC Board continues to actively seek grant opportunities from a multitude of sources, they are also pro-actively planning the long-term business strategies that will ensure the site’s ongoing sustainability.
The Take-Away
Armed with their conviction that their historic Cathedral could have a new life, and by putting the community’s wellbeing at the center of their mission, the SJKC has made tremendous strides in creating a new hub for their rural community. Their inspiring successes to date can be attributed to many interrelated factors:
- Continuous engagement with their community
- Effective leadership and volunteer team work
- The creation of new partnerships
- Detailed business and project planning