UPDATED APRIL 5, 2018
If you have missed the church bells ringing in L’Orignal recently, it is with good reason. Due to structural issues with the church steeple, the bell has remained silent, likely for safety reasons.
A press release was issued late Tuesday afternoon, April 3, advising that significant fundraising efforts will be required in order to effect the necessary repairs to the steeple. No cost has yet been determined.
Parishioners Eric and Tammy Drouin are taking the church and its heritage to heart and have offered their services to launch the fundraising campaign. They are inviting anyone who is interested in the future of the church to attend a meeting on April 19 at 7 p.m. at the church. The press releases says that parish officials will be on hand to explain the seriousness of the situation, the necessary steps related to the diocese and the need for an engineer’s inspection.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church is located at 1057 Queen Street in L’Orignal. It was built in 1851-52.