St. Andrew’s United Church will be listed for sale early this year, with a buyer, date, and asking price yet to be determined for the iconic Moose Jaw landmark.
St. Andrew’s United Church is currently owned by the United Church of Canada and currently has around 65 regular congregation members who will be directly affected by the announcement.
“St. Andrew’s congregation is going through a period of change and loss right now,” said Laura Richard, chair of the St. Andrew’s Church governing committee.
“Selling our building was not an easy decision, but ultimately as a Christian community, our highest calling is to invest our time, energy, and funds into the community — not simply to maintain a beautiful building.”
The decision to sell the building was based on two realities faced by the congregation, Richard said.
First, a marked decline in church attendance and resulting involvement made it increasingly difficult for the organization to meet its financial obligations.
Second, and more importantly, she said Christians with the United Church of Canada view their ministerial work as more important than maintaining a building.
“We believe that, without the fiscal responsibility for the building, we will be able to invest more in our community and the work we have been called to do, such as feeding the homeless, providing work opportunities to those in need, justice seeking, and — as the only affirming church in Moose Jaw — being a safe place and advocate for the LGBTQ community.”
For around 24 years, St. Andrew’s United Church has provided a space for the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council and several other community organizations that have used the venue for meetings, courses, and other valuable purposes.
“As much as we’re able, we want to work with the future buyer to continue to house these important causes,” Richard said, but warned that she “cannot make any guarantees” as the decision will fall solely on the building’s new owner.
The realty contract was awarded to Colliers after a period of deliberation, and Richard said that she’s confident with the decision.
The sale won’t have any specific conditions or stipulations, such as maintaining it as a place of worship, but Richard said it would be “fantastic” if it remained as such and said she and other United Church members intend to hold a discussion with any potential buyers.
“We are being conservative in our expectations at this point,” she clarified. “It’s early in the process for speculation.”
Once the building has sold, Richard said the congregation will either continue in the same location as tenants, or they’ll find a different space to worship including the possibility of other United Church locations in Moose Jaw.
“The goal is to free up our congregants to do more work in the community free of the burden of being a landlord,” she noted.
St. Andrew’s United Church describes itself as a progressive worshipping community dedicated to spiritual growth, caring, and inclusivity. Through its Affirming Ministries program, the United Church aspires to be inclusive for all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and other factors.
It provides outreach both to the community and the world and operates with the vision of aspiring to be a faithful, inclusive, caring, justice-seeking, and welcoming community that’s open to change.
“In this time of great change for our congregation, the only thing we are sure of is that we’re going to stay together as a community.
“We do not need a fancy building to do our Christian work,” she continued. “We only need each other, and our community supports, and so the priority is to preserve these relationships going forward.”
Further information will be provided throughout the ongoing sale process.
St. Andrew’s United Church is situated at 60 Athabasca Street East.