I have an attachment to St. Paul's Church. My grandparents were members there, my parents were married there. I spent happy sleepovers throughout my time in girl guides there- the place is full of happy memories for me, as I'm sure it is for at least half the town. These happy memories, and emotions made it difficult for me to hear on Canada Day that there was a fire at this beloved Milton landmark.
Shock was what I felt when I first heard it, followed in typical reporter fashion by the need to do the story. I did the story, and frankly I'm sceptical that the cause was electrical in nature. For the last two years the place has been involved in a redevelopment idea- to take down the old church, and in its place put a life-lease condominum as well as new worship space. It is a decision that has caused much argument among the congregation, and town at large. It was recently announced St. Paul's had plans to apply for a demolition permit- the matter is being heard before Heritage Milton tomorrow (Thursday). The situation makes me ask- if the whole situation doesn't sew the seeds of suspicion on the fire's cause, then what does? I don't think the church should really blame the rest of us for concluding there is a possibility it was arson.
Looking at it without emotion, and in purely practical terms, there are legitmate arguments on both sides. On the one side is heritage- the place has been a part of Milton for about as long as Milton has existed. It's dominated that part of downtown, and it's hard to imagine that part of downtown without it. It has the fabled "rose window" as well as several from World War One. This kind of history is hard to find, can we really afford to lose that? If it gets designation, I think it's worth looking at the downtown as some kind of heritage district.
On the other hand. There is no denying progress. St. Paul's is part of the area targted for intensification- more seniors housing would fit well there. Damage from the fire is said to be in the six figure range- Would it cost more to fix the damage, and the pre-existing structural problems than it would to just take it down and start again?
I'm a history lover. I would love to see the place saved. I can't really picture what downtown Milton would look like without it. But the reality is, it may happen. I hope before a final decision is made, they discover what exactly happened in the fire, be it electrical or something more sinister.
