St. Hilda's Update

For those of you following the story of the building remediation of St. Hilda’s, Sechelt (main story, centerspread pages of the January issue of Topic and the follow-up below the fold on page 10 of the February issue and here online) a Special Vestry Meeting was held at St. Hilda’s on Sunday, January 14 about authorizing loans for sanctuary reconstruction and approving visioning and a feasibility study for property redevelopment.  At the meeting, a polished and professional presentation was shared with members of vestry by rector, the Reverend Clarence Li and deacon, the Venerable Bruce Morris. The three part motion to proceed with these goals was overwhelmingly approved with the next step being to take the request to Diocesan Council, the governing body of the Diocese of New Westminster.

The matter came before both diocesan standing committees of the diocese at a joint meeting on January 23. Again the presentation was shown and the result was that the two standing committees: Management Finance and Property (MFP) and Mission and Ministry Development (MMD) unanimously approved a motion to recommend to Diocesan Council that the Parish be permitted to proceed with a demand loan of $300,000 from a private lender and if necessary seek additional financing of up to $200,000. This recommendation was circulated to the members of Diocesan Council via an email poll with the result being that the Motion was Carried.  

The cost of the remediation is now estimated to be $900,000.