by The group trying to buy St. Alphonsus Church in Victoria Mines says it’s reached a deal with the Diocese of Antigonish to purchase the property for 40-thousand dollars.
The Stone Church Restoration Society has been lobbying to save the building from the wrecking ball and hopes to turn it into a tourist attraction and non-denominational wedding chapel.
Society spokesperson Melanie Samson says the Diocese will now draw up the purchase and sale agreement and subdivide the land to separate out two cemeteries at the site.
She adds they’ve put down a 7-thousand dollar down payment on the property and will pay off the rest of the purchase price in installments.
She goes on to say they won’t get the keys to the property until they pay off 20-thousand dollars.
Samson says the Society now plans to hold a number of fundraisers to come up with the money.