St. Peter’s Anglican Church to Be Demolished

Glace Bay - After standing empty and deteriorating for nearly a decade, St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Third Street in Glace Bay is slated for demolition this coming July. The century-old landmark, decommissioned in 2016 due to dwindling attendance and mounting maintenance costs, has become a safety concern for neighbours and passersby. Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board has received final approval to raze the building and clear the lot for a future community park. 

Built in 1912 by local parishioners and famous for its stained-glass windows depicting scenes from Cape Breton’s coal-mining heritage, St. Peter’s held its last service on June 5, 2016. In the years that followed, water damage from a leaking roof caused the once-solid brick walls to buckle, while interior plaster crumbled onto rotting floorboards. Window panes shattered, and pigeons—once unwelcome refugees—have nested in the steeple since at least 2018.

“It’s heartbreaking to see what was once such a beautiful gathering place reduced to this,” said longtime Glace Bay resident and former parishioner Madeline MacIntyre at a community meeting last week. “But I understand safety has to come first. I just hope they salvage some of the stained glass.” MacIntyre, who attended her first Sunday service at St. Peter’s in 1964, recalled weddings, funerals, and Christmas pageants held on those wooden pews for more than 50 years.

Municipal engineer Jeff Calhoun explained that the building’s structural damage has left it beyond economic repair. “Our inspectors found extensive rot in the support beams, plus foundation settlement along the north wall,” he said. “Attempting to restore the church to a safe condition would cost well over $300,000, which the diocese cannot cover. Demolition is unfortunately the most viable option.”

The Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island officially deconsecrated St. Peter’s in October 2016. Church records indicate that membership had dwindled from 120 active parishioners in 2000 to fewer than 15 by 2015. After closure, a small group of volunteers tried fundraising for a heritage-focused restoration, but efforts stalled in 2018 when engineering estimates revealed prohibitively high costs.

At last Tuesday’s public hearing, Mayor Susan McLaughlin reiterated the town’s commitment to preserving what remains of St. Peter’s. “We’ve directed municipal heritage officers to recover and catalog any salvagable artifacts—such as the original pews, brass light fixtures, and especially those stained-glass panels,” she stated. “Once demolition is complete, we plan to transform the site into a pocket park with seating, landscaping, and a commemorative plaque to honour Glace Bay’s rich ecclesiastical history.”

Local historian and author Nigel Fraser applauded the decision to preserve fragments of the church’s past. “While loss of the building is regrettable, it’s crucial we keep a tangible memory,” he said. Fraser also noted that the church cemetery adjacent to the building will remain undisturbed; descendants of those buried there have been consulted, and no graves will be relocated.

Demolition crews are scheduled to commence work on July 8, weather permitting, with an anticipated completion date of July 30. Residents living on Third Street have been advised to expect noise and minor traffic disruptions during weekday hours. A public “Last Look” event—allowing former parishioners and history enthusiasts one final opportunity to tour the interior—will be held on July 5 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at no cost.

In the months following demolition, Parks and Recreation staff will remove debris and prepare the lot for landscaping, aiming to have the new pocket park open in early autumn. Plans include a small gazebo, benches, and an interpretive sign outlining St. Peter’s role in Glace Bay’s social fabric. As the town bids farewell to an architectural fixture that stood for 109 years, many hope the new green space will honour the legacy of community and faith that once flourished within its walls.