St Malachy church. like many, in dire need of restoration, and short of funds.  One of the few parishers left with the church, the land, and the rectory are still owned by the parish.

St Malachy Roman-Catholic Church, like many, in dire need of restoration, and short of funds. It is however, one of the few parishes left on PEI where the church, the land, and the presbytery are all still owned by the parish.
Photo Credit: google street view

Saving a magnificent wooden church

There are several words to describe the large wooden churches on Prince Edward Island: magnificent, breath-taking, awe-inspiring are certainly among them.

But these churches need money for upkeep, and like many churches now, are in financial trouble.

An architectural beauty, the front elevation of ST Malachy's Roman-Catholic wooden church in Kinkora PEI. An anonymous donor has offered financial support to its preservation
An architectural beauty, the front elevation of St. Malachy’s Roman-Catholic wooden church in Kinkora PEI, opened in 1901. An anonymous donor has offered financial support to its preservation © Faye Pound-historicplaces.ca

St Malachy’s Roman-Catholic Church in Kinkora, now 114 years old is in need of restoration, and cash. There was a lot of the former, and not enough of the latter and so parishioners were faced with the possibility of selling church land and the priest’s residence to raise funds for the restoration.  In the in the hope they could avoid that course of action, they also started a fund-raising campaign, hoping to raise $375.000.00 and began reaching out to parishioners and others.

2009- photo showing side elevation and parochial house
2009- photo showing side elevation and presbytery house © Faye Pound-historic places Canada

It was then that a member of the Community Foundation of P.E.I. — a non-profit organization that helps groups, individuals and foundations to support charitable causes — came to them with an anonymous donation

It was related that the donor realized that St. Malachy’s is one of the few parishes left on P.E.I. that still own the church, the land and the house, and wanted that unique situation to be preserved.

The donor will match funding up to $25,000 per year for five years with the provision that the land and priest’s residence not be sold.  St Malachy, was named after a 12th century Irish bishop and the town after Kincora in Ireland.

It is one of many buildings, churches, government buildings and residences designed by prolific architect William Critchlow Harris.

St Mary's deconsecrated Catholic church, with its astounding acoustics, now home to the Indian River festival featuring classical performances from around the world
St Mary’s (deconsecrated) Catholic church, with its astounding acoustics by architect WC Harris-very similar to St Malachy, but larger and completed in 1902, the year after St Malachy. It is now home to the Indian River festival featuring classical performances from artists from around the world. © Marc Montgomery

The French Gothic style, with Victorian influences, is very similar to the somewhat more famous and slightly larger St Mary’s church in Indian River PEI. which was completed the year after St Malachy’s, in 1902. It is the largest wooden church in the province with seating for 600.

Both are acoustical and architectural treasures. St Mary’s however was deconsecrated in 2009. Since 1996, the Indian River Festival has invited some of the world’s top classical musicians and choirs to perform there, and in 2010 the Festival purchased the church and undertook restoration.

Interior of St Mary's at Indian River in PEI. one of WC Harris magnificent architectural creations and very similar to St Malachy's completed a year earlier.
Interior of St Mary’s at Indian River in PEI. showing a performance of the Welsh Choir. This is one of WC Harris magnificent architectural creations and very similar to St Malachy’s completed a year earlier. © Ann MacNeil- Indianriverfestival.com
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