Denomination: Anglican Church
St. Bartholomew’s 1833-1854. St. Peter’s 1854-1920. St. Lawrence 1920-2000. St. Lawrence 2000 -present. Our new St. Lawrence Church is the fourth home for our Anglican congregation in Portugal Cove. Although a new building, it is a unique building rich with history.
St. Lawrence School had been a familiar landmark in Portugal Cove for over 50 years. The school was built by the people of the parish in the mid 1940’s and housed the Anglican children until 1969 when it was taken over by the Avalon Consolidated School Board. At that time an auditorium/gymnasium was added to the school. This new complex very quickly became the centre of activities for a number of community groups and church sponsored groups.
St. Lawrence Parish bought back the building in late 1993 after the new Beachy Cove School was open. Since then the auditorium/gymnasium has been used as a Parish Hall/Community Centre.
Still attached to building, however, was the main classroom section of the old school. A decision was made by St. Lawrence Congregation to build a new church where the classrooms had been, and upon inspection it was found that the foundation and materials in the old building were very well preserved and most of it could be re-used.
In December 1998, work began on dismantling the old building and storing the good materials so they could be used when work began on the new building. This recycling project was funded by a FRAM grant from HRDC. Led by a very dedicated Building Committee and with financial help from HRDC grants and volunteer expertise and labour from parishioners, in two years our building was complete.
The old St. Lawrence Church was deconsecrated on 2nd October 2000 and for a few weeks services were held in the gymnasium. During this time, the furnishings, the stained glass window and anything from the old building that could be used was transferred and installed in the new building. The first service in our new church was held on 17 December 2000 and the new St. Lawrence church was officially opened on 14th January 2001.
Many of our parishioners were educated in the original building and where once the school bell summoned the children to class, now the church bell summons us to worship.
St. Lawrence School had been a familiar landmark in Portugal Cove for over 50 years. The school was built by the people of the parish in the mid 1940’s and housed the Anglican children until 1969 when it was taken over by the Avalon Consolidated School Board. At that time an auditorium/gymnasium was added to the school. This new complex very quickly became the centre of activities for a number of community groups and church sponsored groups.
St. Lawrence Parish bought back the building in late 1993 after the new Beachy Cove School was open. Since then the auditorium/gymnasium has been used as a Parish Hall/Community Centre.
Still attached to building, however, was the main classroom section of the old school. A decision was made by St. Lawrence Congregation to build a new church where the classrooms had been, and upon inspection it was found that the foundation and materials in the old building were very well preserved and most of it could be re-used.
In December 1998, work began on dismantling the old building and storing the good materials so they could be used when work began on the new building. This recycling project was funded by a FRAM grant from HRDC. Led by a very dedicated Building Committee and with financial help from HRDC grants and volunteer expertise and labour from parishioners, in two years our building was complete.
The old St. Lawrence Church was deconsecrated on 2nd October 2000 and for a few weeks services were held in the gymnasium. During this time, the furnishings, the stained glass window and anything from the old building that could be used was transferred and installed in the new building. The first service in our new church was held on 17 December 2000 and the new St. Lawrence church was officially opened on 14th January 2001.
Many of our parishioners were educated in the original building and where once the school bell summoned the children to class, now the church bell summons us to worship.
