Historic 103-year-old Church Demolished in Chipman

Historic 103-year-old Church Demolished in Chipman

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

STORY PREVIEW

Reverend Chris Schmidt gave the final blessing to St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church on March 8 before a crowd of around 20 parishioners, well-wishers, and onlookers in the Village of Chipman.

It was an emotional time as people bid farewell to the church where generations of families worshipped and celebrated together. Shortly after the ringing of the bell at 9:25 am church committee member Richard Mandryk addressed the crowd. “Today, we gather with mixed emotions. Mostly sadness to see our place of worship at this point in its life. However, we are also here to celebrate and remember what St. Bonaventure Church has meant to each one of us.”

He pointed to where the cornerstone of the foundation was located on the northeast corner of the church. “The completed church was and still is the building block and foundation for many, many families here as far as their faith and their life carries on. It was our forefathers that are at rest in the cemetery here that built this church and completed it in 1918.”

The cross, the bell, the cornerstone and the sign will take their place at the church cemetery in symbol of the church that was here.” Mandryk added that a book of memoirs is in the works and will be published and will be available at a minimum cost.

For many parishioners, their faith life included Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and final Rite of Death all celebrated in this same parish. Parishioners have memories of pot luck picnics enjoyed at the end of catechism sessions taught during summer holidays by the Sisters of Service, of the yearly Valentine Tea and Bazaar organized by the Ladies Club, of midnight mass at Christmas, and memories of the Archbishop’s visits for Confirmation.

Virginia and Edwin Chiperzak were married on July 12, 1956. Virginia said that today was a very sad day for her. Alex and Lorrie Tarka were also married in the church. The couple are approaching their 40 wedding anniversary and fondly recall their wedding day on March 14, 1981. “It was 25 above, oh it was beautiful. And then we had our 20th anniversary and it was 40 below. Blizzard.” said Lorrie.

Wayne Woldanski said, “It’s a pretty sad day really. Our family has been a part of this church from when my parents lived the area. I attended church here all my life, basically, until the church closed. I was, in fact, an altar boy for a few years. I had my First Communion here. And Confirmation. So, it’s very sad to see an icon like this have to be demolished…It’s unfortunate, but it’s like a lot of other things in today’s world I guess.

Read the full story in the March 10, 2021 edition of the News Advertiser - now online!

St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church in Chipman.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Employees with Canadian Demolition dismantling the bell tower on March 9.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)