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There has been great concern about the deterioration of the 1904 St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Midnapore, a provincially designated historic site. A society has been founded to restore the old church. Go to http://www.oldstpatrickschurch.ca/ for contact information, history and more[/b]. (website now inactive)

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To read a January 25 David Bly article about those concerns go to this link: http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... .php?t=137. Another David Bly Column from April 20 is below.
Provincial information about St. Pat's: http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/preserving/heri ... /index.asp
Article in the March 2005 'Catholic Reporter' about St. Pat's: http://www.wcr.ab.ca/columns/tedfitzger ... 0705.shtml
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The following update on the situation and photos were submitted by Ken Lapointe, member of the Calgary Heritage Authority, on February 17 (Note that some of this information has been superceded by events. Go to http://www.oldstpatrickschurch.ca/ for the latest...)

MCES (Midnapore Church of England Society) hosted a public meeting Saturday Feburary 11th, 2006 at the the Anglican Church hall that sits between the two heritage churches - St. Pat's and its neighbour, the historic Midnapore Church of England.
It was well attended by 50-60 individuals. I met descendants of the pioneers, Catholic St. Patrick's parish members, St. Paul's Anglican parish members, Calgary Civic Trust members, representatives of Memorial Gardens, the present owner of the site, a representative of the Bishop and many other interested Calgarians.
To sum up my observations and notations - details should be verified:
1. Sheila Johnston and myself, Ken LaPointe were present from the Calgary Heritage Authority.
2. The original lands were donated to the Catholic Diocese in 3 parts; Nuns donated land for the purposes of a cemetary, and the remaining two parcels donated by pioneer John Glenn.
3. Around 1991, the parcels were sold as combined title 2.5 acres to Toronto based "Memorial Gardens" with an agreement that the church building was to be removed by the diocese. The Diocese is the current
custodian of the building, not the lands.
4. Memorial Garden's desire is to build a mausoleum and upgrade the cemetary site yet little work has been done to maintain property or the condition of the graves. The current land owners are frustrated but appear to be willing to deal with any group that would seek moving of the building and perhaps assist in dealing with the current Bishop. There seems to be no consideration on their part to participate in any preservation on the site.
5. The current historic designation of the lands and church, April 10th, 2001, about 5 years ago, prevents demolition or moving of the church unless approved by the Provincial Minister of Community Development (Gary Mar). Rino Basso was the provincial representative. I have dealt with Rino before and is very approachable and a wealth of information. If the church is to be moved, it must remain in "context". Moving next store might be an alternative (and in "context" but in situ is still the preferred).
6. No structural assessment study has been done (my question during the meeting).
7. Vandalism is evident and fire is the worst threat to the wooden
Church building's survival. (photo below).

8. Provincial funding through the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation is from VLT (gambling) funds and is not acceptable to the Catholic Diocese (previously well publicized and evident at the meeting).
9. A group trying for years to protect or preserve the church was met with refusal by the previous Bishop Paul O'Byrne. The present Bishop's (Fred Henry's) position is well known regarding heritage matters. A representative of the Bishop (and only an "observer") at the meeting said in their recent discussions that moving of the church to St. Mary's college site was discussed but not moving the church to the Anglican site - that didn't even seem to be considered.
10. The group organizing the meeting, The Midnapore Church of England Society (MCES), formed 11 years ago and responsible for the restoration of St. Paul's Anglican church, would like to assist any new group that would help preserve the lands as a whole and in "context". No objection of moving the Catholic Church to the Anglican site was apparent. It was implied that another interested group should take the lead role and not the MCES.
Ken LaPointe, member Calgary Heritage Authority