A Roman Catholic church in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada, has become the focal point of a legal dispute after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yarmouth filed a lawsuit against two Acadian cultural preservation non-profits. The Diocese claims that Heritage St. Bernard and Nation Prosper Acadian Inc. have defaulted on their mortgage payments and have not paid nearly $200,000 since acquiring the church last year under a purchase agreement, following its closure in 2022.
The church, originally built in 1910 and completed in 1942, is a monumental structure made of over 8,000 granite blocks and is a well-known landmark located in St. Mary’s Bay, southwest of Digby. However, over the years, rising maintenance costs and dwindling attendance led to the church’s closure in 2022.
“We are trying to bring this iconic building back to life in our community,” said Jean Leblanc, president of Heritage St. Bernard. He also mentioned that the diocese had requested a looser contract, but negotiations broke down. In a statement, the diocese explained that it had received over 100 bids for the building, which was valued at $250,000, and deemed the two groups as the best candidates for preserving its historical and cultural value. However, it has taken legal action due to the outstanding payments.
Jean LeBlanc expressed his desire to resolve the issue amicably, saying, “Going to court is a burden in terms of time and money. I hope the diocese will be more flexible.”