Building for the Future

The congregation of St. Thomas Anglican Church in Shanty Bay is taking on a considerable challenge! Our vision is to have an accessible, energy-efficient, people-friendly parish hall that will enable future ministry and be a source of pride for the community.

While the historic church building itself was made physically accessible in 2004, many worshippers, friends, and neighbours have been denied the use of the parish hall because of inaccessibility and lack of suitable washroom facilities. Events such as wedding and funeral receptions have not found a welcoming home in the parish hall because of these deficiencies. Community gatherings could be much better attended and served by the improvements that are now planned.

Please click below to view:

Journey in Ministry Brochure  Pt. 1

Journey in Ministry Brochure Pt. 2

The parish hall was built in 1968 and has served us well. However, the building currently presents several challenges, including no insulation in the walls or roof, single glazed windows and an elderly oil heating system. (A recent energy audit revealed that the current hall has an energy efficiency level of 3 out of 100 on the EnerGuide rating. Proposed improvements to the hall’s energy efficiency are expected to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 36 tonnes per year.) The hall provides only one office space, which is cramped and often unworkable as a study for our minister. Add to these deficiencies the fact that the front door is inaccessible to people with mobility issues and that the washrooms are down a flight of stairs, and one begins to understand the scope of work to be undertaken.

 It is our plan to provide additional meeting spaces for both congregational and community needs while continuing to provide a home for the Shanty Bay Nursery School, which serves the educational needs of children from two to five years of age. This is a huge undertaking for a small congregation, but one we believe is overdue.

The physical appearance of the hall will also be transformed. On the exterior, there will be an addition to the east and south faces, and gentle ramps that will lead to a covered entry-way. In the interior, there will be new meeting spaces, washrooms on both levels and a lift between the main and lower floors. The heating system will be modernized by converting to natural gas, the windows and lighting replaced, and the walls and ceilings insulated.

St. Thomas has been given preliminary approval by our parent governing body at the Diocese of Toronto to proceed with the project and our fundraising is well underway. It is our hope to begin construction this summer and to be fully functioning in the fall of 2010.

This project will provide everyone in the village and wider community with an accessible and attractive centre. It is our hope that our many friends will help us through their support of fundraising activities.  

To make a donation please click here

To view upcoming Special Events click here....