Crews have been demolishing the Summerland United Church building on Henry Avenue to allow for the construction of a housing complex on the site.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of grief and sadness to lose this building,91裸聊视频� said Anne Ellis, minister of the United Church. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard for a lot of people who have been here for a very long time.91裸聊视频�

The first building for what is now the United Church in Summerland began in 1910 on the property and a portion of the present building was constructed in 1911. 

The newer building on the property, which housed the sanctuary, was constructed and opened in 1984. Ellis said some of the longtime members of the congregation were attending when this building was constructed.

Despite the demolition, the church remains a presence in the community, meeting at a different location.

In October, the congregation made the move to the St. Stephen Anglican Church building, at 9311 Prairie Valley Rd. The two congregations are sharing a building, but remain as separate congregations.

Ellis said that while the church had once considered returning to the Henry Avenue location after the housing complex had been considered, that plan has changed and the congregation will remain in its location in the Anglican Church building.

Some of the bricks from the building on Henry Avenue will be used at the new site to create a prayer wall, outside the St. Stephen Anglican Church building, Ellis said. This will be constructed at a later date.

She added that the church consists of the people and is not defined by the building where they meet.

While the Henry Avenue location was a long-time presence for the Summerland United Church, Ellis said there is also a spirit of hopefulness.

The church91裸聊视频檚 property, at 13204 and 13214 Henry Ave., will be the site of a housing project, something the church has been working to create for more than 10 years.

The 60-unit housing project, which will also house the Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre, will be constructed at the site, with work to begin in the coming weeks.

Of the 60 housing units, 30 per cent will be rented at market rate, 50 per cent will be rented geared to income and 20 per cent will be for those on fixed incomes.

The building will not be a shelter but instead will provide housing for those within the community, says Turning Points Collaborative Society, the organization constructing the new facility.

Housing has been identified as a need within the community, with Summerland91裸聊视频檚 2021 Housing Needs Assessment mentioning a critical shortage of affordable housing. The report identified more than 400 households spending more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter costs.

91裸聊视频淭he dream of affordable housing is happening,91裸聊视频� Ellis said.

Earlier, she said the decision for the church to give up its building came from the church91裸聊视频檚 mission statement. The statement speaks of sharing material and spiritual resources in order to lessen hunger, homelessness, and loneliness.