Page 12 - At Home Prince Edward County

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD CHURCH

by Janet Davies • Photos by Peggy deWi2
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EEvven peoplle whoo donn’’t GGoo too Chuurch enjjoy ggoingg to cchuurccheess..
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And why not? Churches are important to a Cherry Valley was built in 1862, its ceme-
community, even if they stop holding tery is even older, established in 1826 –
services because of low attendance. In about 50 years before Picton’s better known
North America, small churches and one- Glenwood Cemetery. When the church
room schoolhouses are often turned into closed and its parishioners joined The An-
private homes. In Britain, where they’ve glican Parish of Marysburgh, Cherry Val-
been “re-using” old structures for thou- ley residents held their breath, fearing the
sands of years, churches are converted into loss of a building that anchors their village.
multi-unit housing, community centres, of- Well, they can breathe again.
fices, clinics, farmers’ markets and event The church building is in good hands
spaces. Thank God. It’s tragic when an old with Al and Cindy DeWitt who have reno-
church is torn down just vated it, repairing and restoring its best fea-
because nobody cared tures and trimming and tidying the
enough to re-use it. grounds including the cemetery. “We put
As the people of 60 tons of gravel on the main road through
Picton know all too the cemetery so you can actually use it
well. now,” says Al. “A lot of it was very over-
The church in grown. We took out dozens of dead trees
and bushes and pruned the live ones.”
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