A Note from the Property Resources Team

As we settle into fall and get back into our regular routines after summer, we just want to say thanks for everything you do to care for parish properties across the Diocese. Your work helps keep these spaces safe, welcoming, and ready for both ministry and community life.

We're here to support you whether you're handling everyday maintenance, thinking ahead, or facing a tricky property question. Reach out anytime.

News

Introducing Marketplace

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new online store, named "Marketplace". It's a space where church surplus items can find new “homes.” This initiative is designed to help parishes discover and repurpose items from disestablished or amalgamated churches.

More information will be emailed directly to clergy and churchwardens, and you'll also find more information at our Display Table at Synod. If you're attending, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Synod Council approves
Building Stewardship Policy

Synod Council has recently approved the Building Stewardship Policy, which replaces the former Building Inspection Policy.

This updated policy reflects our commitment to proactive care and responsible management of parish properties. It provides clear guidelines and best practices to ensure our buildings remain safe, functional, and sustainable for ministry today and into the future.

Key updates include:

A broader focus on long-term property stewardship, not just inspections.
Encouragement of preventive maintenance and capital planning.
Alignment with our mission of sustainability and faithful resource management.

For questions or more information, please contact Pamela Boisvert, Property Resources Consultant.

Stories

A Landmark Nearing 160 Years

Growing up, I would often watch Little House on the Prairie after school. It was filled with stories of rural life that now echo in real places I visit in my work.

During the summer on a joint Property Resources and Archives site visit we stopped at Christ Church, Banda. Built in 1865, the small church is visible from a distance thanks to its noticeably leaning weather vane. Like many rural churches it has no water, but what sets it apart is that it has never had electricity. Inside, little remains beyond a few oil lanterns and the hooks they once hung from.

In my role, I manage Diocesan-controlled properties, including closed churches and cemeteries. If they no longer serve a strategic purpose, we work to secure land leases, sell them or transfer ownership to municipalities to preserve their local significance.

As I now prepare to write to the Township about possibly assuming care of Christ Church and its cemetery, there’s a real sense of loss. This year marks the building’s 160th anniversary, but it’s in significant decline. The foundation is crumbling, and the stained glass is buckling under shifting weight.

We need to do better at addressing deferred maintenance. Buildings like this tell important stories and shouldn’t be left to quietly fade away.

Christ Church, Banda

A Quiet Church with a Busy Roof

When your day job as a property manager and your hobby for wildlife rehab come together, it's a good day. That’s exactly what happened after I found a lot of bat guano inside one of our closed-up churches. What followed turned into a night I won’t forget anytime soon.

I needed to find out if bats were still using the church and whether they might overwinter there. So after contacting a professional ecology consulting firm, we planned an evening visit to watch for any activity.

Sunset was at 7:15 p.m., so we met at the church around 7:00 p.m. to get set up. We had some surveillance gear to place inside, near the nave. Two ecologists came out to help. One was set up near the front of the church, and the other toward the back. I got to tag along and observe, which was a great chance to learn more about how they do this kind of work.

They explained that if any bats were still inside, they’d probably start leaving about 30 minutes after sunset. Sure enough, right on time at 7:40 p.m., one bat dropped down and flew out. Then another one right after that. It turned into a steady stream for about 15 minutes. A couple of times, two bats flew out almost at the same time, which can mean it was a mom and her pup heading out together. We ended up counting 35 bats leaving the church that night.

Even though the equipment didn’t show movement inside the main part of the building, the number of bats we saw coming out tells us they’re definitely swarming and will likely overwinter up in the roof. The recordings suggested a mix of species. Most were big brown bats, but we also picked up signs of little brown myotis, which are endangered. There were also a couple of hoary bats in the area, but they usually don’t roost in buildings, so they were probably just passing through.

Next steps include cleaning up the guano, sealing any gaps leading into the interior of the the church (being careful not to trap any bats inside) and allowing the bats to remain in the roof over the winter. We plan to return next summer when they’re more active to conduct an acoustic survey and hopefully gather better data on the colony's size. At that point, we'll develop a long-term solution that protects both the building and the bats.

It was one of those nights where two different parts of my life came together in the best way. Kind of odd, kind of surprising, but totally worth it. And the story continues.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Preventive Maintenance

Caring for Sacred Spaces

Church buildings tell stories of faith, community, and history—but they also need care. This workshop explores practical ways to preserve and protect parish properties. We'll look at how to plan for maintenance costs and take proactive steps that can help avoid major repairs in the future.

Online Workshop

Oct. 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Synod is Just Around the Corner - Come Say Hello!

The Property Resources Team is gearing up for Synod we're excited to be there! Be sure to stop by our display table with any property-related questions, or just to say hello.

You'll also get a chance to explore Marketplace, our brand-new online store. And who knows, we might even have a few giveaways!

We'd love to see you there.