A church and historical landmark at Pine Lake will get some needed repairs after Red Deer County pitched in with $75,000.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church was built in 1903 and has become a much-photographed attraction.
“We’re pumped,” said church People’s Warden Paddy Douglas, shortly after council approved the funding.
“It’s been a long process. The church has needed the upkeep and the maintenance for quite a while.
“It’s been 30 years since the last roof has been on, and it needed repainting.”
The total cost of the historical restoration project is about $137,000. Besides replacing the shingled roof, shingles, siding and trim will be repainted. Broken and rotted crosses and roof details will be replaced with historically accurate reproductions.
Church members have contributed $25,000 and the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation is providing nearly $8,000 and more funding help is being sought.
Work has already started and they hope to have repairs completed by the beginning of August.
“Everybody is welcome to come out for services every second Sunday,” said Douglas.
Mayor Jim Wood said preserving the county’s historical buildings is important.
“It’s probably one of the best views in the entire county looking out from this church,” he said.
“We have to keep these buildings up to snuff.”
The county designated the church a Historic Municipal Resource in 2009.