It is a place of worship that is soon going to be known as the little church that grew.
When it is done, the Rockwood Presbyterian Church will have a remarkably different look and feel. More importantly, it will be even more accessible to the community.
On May 15, the congregation held an official sod turning beneath an impromptu tent set up for the event. As Rev. Linda Paquette thanked those who helped them get this far, she noted, “The tree has been cut and the building permit received.”
Paquette added, “We’re really grateful for all the help that we’ve had from the township.” She welcomed Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White and other guests. Because of the poor weather, Paquette said the service would be brief.
Starting with the call to build, Paquette quoted the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, “According to the grace of God has given to me, like a skill master builder I laid the foundation.”
The congregation replied “Let us build upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophet, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
Paquette responded “… let this broken ground be the site upon which we will raise the extension of Rockwood Presbyterian Church to the glory of God and where we will reach out to the world around us in new ways.”
The Presbyterians bought the structure from the Quakers in 1927, and it has served the people of the church and the community well over the years.
The decision was to build an addition to the front of the building that would allow for a meeting room with a kitchenette, an accessible washroom and a Sunday School room for younger children.
At the sod turning several members of the congregation took part, including Walter Swanston, who served on the building committee and the feasibility committee, and young David Coccimiglio, whose great-great-great-grandfather was one of the ones who, along with a McNabb, purchased the building for the Presbyterians in 1927.
The building committee is comprised of Mike McNabb, Barb Bonner, Swanston and Paquette.
She said, “We have a lot of history … We will most definitely go on, building on what has been done as we go into the future.”
When discussing how the sod turning should take place, Swanston quipped that perhaps they should have rehearsed it.
Merv Auger, of B&M Construction Ltd., explained the 1,100 square foot addition has been a few years in the making.
Guelph-Eramosa councillor John Scott said the addition will allow the church to be wheelchair accessible. The changes also allow the structure to meet provincial legislation requiring full access for public buildings.
In an interview with Swanston and Paquette following the ceremony, Paquette said work on the project first began several years ago, looking at the church and its needs, “for then and further down the line.”
In 2004, the congregation instructed a feasibility committee to consider how future needs could be addressed.
Discussion and surveys all seemed to focus on the same issues: an accessible washroom and meeting room on the main floor and better parking.
A land survey was completed and preliminary sketches were presented. The Ministry of Transport, the Township of Guelph-Eramosa and the Grand River Conservation Authority were all consulted.
“That was the incentive,” Paquette said.
On Nov. 9, 2009 a building committee was struck after the congregation decided to proceed.
“Since then, we’ve needed to get approvals from many different sources. That took some time.” Paquette said they received the permit two days before the sod turning.
Swanston added, “We’re so proud of it [the permit], he’s had it laminated already.”
He added, “There was never any objection to what our plans were, but the modern world requires so many different objectives in order to complete this. It seemed to drag on and go forever, but it’s worked out fine.”
Paquette said the addition is being done through funding by the congregation itself. There is also some through the national church, from different agencies within the church, and the Presbytery of Wellington-Waterloo has helped.
Paquette noted there was also money set aside by the congregation for some time, in preparation of the build.
However, she was clear “The value is more than monetary. It will allow people to not have to use the stairs, and to have a meeting place on the main floor.”
She hopes it will be used by people as a meeting room and a place to gather.
The front windows will be removed and a new hallway will lead down to the new entrance, closer to the street.
Swanston said there will be a new entrance into the church. He explained most of the addition will be to the front and side of the existing structure, thus widening the street side view of the building.
“It isn’t a huge addition, but it was as much as we could infringe on the Ministry of Transportation’s limitations. We’ve done all we can with the property,” Swanston added.
The new exterior walls to the front will be covered in stonework, and yellow brickwork at the front of the structure will be replaced with stone as well, for a unified structure.
Paquette added, “Little David [Coccimiglio] is the sixth generation to be active in worshiping in this congregation. This isn’t the only family where it is the fifth or sixth generation who are active.”
At the same time, she added there are also new people in the congregation as well.
She cited all the great work that was done before – and the foresight upon which they have been able to build.
“It’s open and welcoming to everyone,” she said.
