Bishop Crown Church was decommissioned about 15 years ago and is now being cleared so Ark Aid can use the space as a shelter.
Recycling specialist Brett Belcher and his team were on the scene to help with the restoration.
“Ark Aid have been working to rent the space from the diocese and the goal in the end here is we’re going to be salvaging and cleaning anything out of value in here, and then Ark Aid on their end will come in with their own team and use the space to keep people out of the cold.”
Some pieces have been uncovered inside, including old plaques the diocese has already photographed for archival purposes. “We can now make those available to the public for anyone interested in purchasing them,” he said. He added that all pews have been sold and crews are recovering remaining materials no longer needed to maintain the sanctuary.
Standing amid the ongoing clean-out efforts, Belcher explained how the project has become a collaborative transition rather than a simple demolition job.
Inside Bishop Crown Church (Theodore Ramharack XFM)
“Anytime you get a shelter space that comes into the local system, communities can either be very responsive to it and very supportive, or they could be against it,” he said. “I’m in support of it as a contractor, knowing what good work is going to happen after we leave this space. We want to see people get off the street. We want to have a warm place for them to put their heads down at night.”
Crews have also accessed the church’s old organ room, a part of the building few people have ever seen.
“All the piping that you see us pulling out today are all made of lead pipe, which is something we can actually recycle and keep out of the local landfill,” he said. “It’s a very rare opportunity to see a space that even parishioners will never have seen in their da and now we’re here deconstructing it, taking it down and putting it into a second use in life.”
The work is expected to continue over the coming weeks as the building is readied for its new role in the community.
