St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Saugeen Shores may become a designated heritage site.
Council approved a staff recommendation proceed with the process to obtain the designation.
A staff report says the trustees and congregation of the church approached the Municipal Heritage Committee about obtaining the designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.
A presentation by Linda Doll says St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is Southampton’s oldest building that is still functioning as a church, and it’s one of Southampton’s 26 pre-confederation buildings.
Doll notes, on August 5th, 1851, the first Presbyterian sermon was preached in the town, in a log cabin church where the Lighthouse Restaurant now sits.
The staff report says the church would be designated for its, “heritage value relevant to its contextual value, heritage value, and design value.” A presentation to council by Linda Doll, says its architecture is in the gothic revival style and the 1862 building retained its essential characteristics when it was expanded in 1911.
A detailed report of the history of the church by trustees and the congregation was included in the agenda package May 23rd, and it notes, “The area now known as Saugeen Shores is situated within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.”
It also notes, Southampton was incorporated as a village on July 24th, 1858 and the first village council met on August 26th.
The staff report says the congregation and trustees have already completed the first two steps of a six-step process, which included researching and evaluating the property. Next steps are to serving notice of intention to designate, with an opportunity for objections, then if things continue, there would be the passing and registering of the designation by-law. It would then be listed on a municipal register and a provincial register.
A notice of intention to delegate will be published in a local newspaper, and from that time there will be a 30-day period during which, when objections to the designation can be filed.
Staff say, currently, the Town of Saugeen Shores has 12 properties that have been designated as Heritage Properties under the Act.