Early mass

Work is underway to restore and reopen the Catholic church in Wellington.

Restoration underway on historic place of worship

It is likely the oldest church in the County. St. Francis of Rome Catholic Church can be made out in the earliest sketches and paintings of Wellington. Much of the early history has been lost, but according to Catholic records, the church was constructed in 1800.

Situated on high ground, surrounded by apple trees and due north of the harbour, the Catholic church was never wired for electricity or plumbed for running water. The structure was never insulated. These factors likely contributed to the building’s longevity and durability, according to engineer Ernie Margetson.

“Any moisture ran right through it and dried up before it could cause damage,” said Margetson.

Margetson is working with a committee of parish members to restore the building. The roof was leaking badly and rafters had begun to sag. The church was closed earlier this year due to the risks. In an inspirational bit of co-operation, St. Andrews Anglican Church offered its facilities to the congregation—even adjusting mass time to assist the churchless.

That might have been the end of the story and the structure. Despite the building’s historic legacy, the congregation in and around Wellington is small, and is getting smaller. Neither is it a vital building in the life of most villagers. Few have ever been inside, while most whiz past it on Belleville Road, scarcely taking any notice. Leo Finnegan was mayor Prince Edward County the summer a rogue contractor smashed a hole into the side of the brick church that had stood on Main Street in Picton for 137 years. Finnegan convened a meeting in April looking for ideas. Some recommended knocking the building down and selling the land.

“That wasn’t going to happen,” said Finnegan. “Not on my watch.”

St. Frances restoration team (L-R): Wilf Buckle, contractor Doug Lester, Reverend Andrew Wilson, Father Thomas Hazthappally, engineer Ernie Margetson and project lead Leo Finnegan.

So the group agreed it would renovate and restore the building. They contacted Margetson to help them understand what had to be done and how much it would cost.

Margetson found the roof to be in bad shape, which had in turn damaged some of the domed plaster ceiling. The fieldstone foundation also needed attention. But otherwise the timber frame building was in good shape, standing pretty much as it did 200 years ago.

“This building deserves the attention it is getting,” says Margetson.

It is a simple structure, dignified in its simplicity and clean lines.

The committee contracted Doug Lester for the renovations. Lester told the assembled gathering last week that for him it was an important project, personally.

“If we don’t preserve our history,” said Lester, “we don’t have a history.”

Father Thomas Thazhappally is the parish priest at St. Gregory’s in Picton, with responsibility for the Wellington Church. Until this year, he said Sunday mass at the church in July and August. After the gracious offer by St. Andrews, he said mass there to about 40 to 50 churchgoers each Sunday.

Father Thazhappally offered a thumbnail of the woman for whom the church honours. Born to a noble family 12th century Rome, Frances was a wife, mother and organizer of charitable services in her community. She founded a pious order of laypersons, and later a monastery.

It is possible the church was so named to honour Archibald McFaul’s wife, Frances. Mc- Faul was a wealthy and influential businessman, best known for his home, Tara Hall, which he gifted to the Catholic church to be used as a boarding school.

The work is expected to cost about $75,000. The Parrot Foundation has agreed to fund an unspecified portion of the cost. The work is expected to be complete later this fall, with mass scheduled to resume next summer.