Parishioners push to save St. Patrick’s Church [Video]

There is a push to save a Catholic church in Halifax from permanently closing.

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Brunswick Street has faced two separate closure notices recently: one from the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, and the other from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).

In May, the archdiocese announced both St. Patrick’s and Saint Theresa’s Church would close following recommendations from the parish leadership of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi Parish. Last week, the HRM posted an Order to Comply on the building. By Friday, the church was temporarily closed with fencing surrounding the entrance due to safety concerns.

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When the archdiocese announced the closure, it listed finances, attendance, pastoral capacity, proximity to other churches, as well as structural concerns as reasons.

John Murphy, a spokesperson for the church, is challenging the closure.

“The emphasis is always on re-occupying the church building and not tearing it …