photo: google maps
As the President of the Patrons of St. Columban Foundation for 17 years, I am very disappointed that the Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall is considering closure of St. Columban’s Church in Cornwall. The historic, beautiful St. Columban’s Church has been the Mother Catholic Church of Cornwall since 1829.
In 2005, a group of parishioners at St. Columban’s parish were permitted by Msgr. Kevin Maloney and Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher to create a Foundation with the sole purpose of preserving the historic St. Columban’s Church in Cornwall.
Since then, the Foundation has raised $1,150,000 from the parishioners for much-needed repairs/restorations that were professionally done to maintain this important place of worship. The Foundation currently has $120,000 available for projects.
St. Columban Church is designated by the Ontario Heritage Act as a Historical building with Romanesque revival architecture, the religious art, statues, a marble plaque of the Last Supper, marble altar rails, stained glass windows, veteran Honour rolls from the First World War, Second World War, and the Korean War, a unique crucifixion stained glass window, and a classic pipe organ. St. Columban’s parish has lived through famines, wars, economic upheavals, the earthquake of September 1944, two fires, and generations of parishioners.
A single parish in central Cornwall should be St. Columban. Its round arches, towers, and heavy stone work are characteristic 11 th and 12th century Romanesque architecture. This church is a visible testimony to the durability of the Catholic faith with its reflection of the past and strong direction to the future.
There would be community outrage if other historic churches such as Trinity Anglican Church or St John’s Presbyterian Church were to be closed. St. Columban’s stands with these other local churches as a living testament to the faith of Cornwall and its inhabitants.
In 2029, St. Columban’s will celebrate its 200th anniversary. How many other parishes in the diocese can lay such a claim? Faith and endurance are its strength and legacy.
Yours truly,
Brian Lynch, President of the Patrons of St. Columban Foundation
About the Author
