Petition to save Ukrainian Orthodox church in Chilliwack [Video]

A Ukrainian Orthodox church has been put up for sale in Chilliwack, following years of declining membership and a rising debt bill.

St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox church has been in the community for decades.

But as the years have gone on the membership has dropped, and the expenses have gone up. Now, the iconic building is up for sale.

A trustee told CTV News outstanding legal bills and repair costs make keeping the church untenable.

“We have quite a substantial legal bill which needs to be paid, and so because there’s no money, we didn’t have much choice,” trustee Vera Penner told CTV News outside the church on Friday. “And when you look at the condition of the church, it needs a lot of work.”

Penner says the church needs significant work done on it. The roof has a leak and there are other issues. As she locked the church …