For more than a century, the bells of St. Peter’s Church (SPC) have sounded through Cobourg’s historic downtown, marking occasions as monumental as the end of World Wars I and II. But since
2021, they have remained silent, tucked away in a crumbling bell tower that’s in desperate need of repair. A new fundraising campaign aims to preserve this historic building and make the bells ring again.
“First built in 1818, SPC is one of our town’s oldest and most historically significant buildings,” says Peter Delanty, former mayor of Cobourg who heads the fundraising committee. “It’s been a pillar of Cobourg’s heritage and community life for more than two centuries. Now. without critical repairs and restoration work on the bell tower, the roof and the ceiling, that heritage is at risk of being lost.”
With parts of the historic building already shuttered, SPC is in urgent need of repair to maintain its role as a pillar of Cobourg’s heritage.
Scaffolding inside the church took two weeks to erect for historic specialists to work on the ceiling.
Eric Stewart, President/Owner of Historic Plaster Conservation Services (HPCS).
“We are consolidating the plaster ceiling in St. Peter’s Church.”
Stewart said they are applying material to the back of the plaster by drilling small injection holes and using a tool that is inserted and sprays three different types of material.
The first application soaks into the plaster, “and breaks surface tension for subsequent richer solutions to penetrate.”
“It converts the plaster from a mechanically suspended system to an adhered system. It enables you to do other work on the building that you might not have been able to do because of the condition of the plaster. It breathes new life into it.”
The process by HPCS is expected to take two weeks and at times the heat has been 40 degrees Celsius.
It’s estimated that more than 20 per cent of Canada’s built heritage was lost between 1970 and 2000. The campaign, Preserving the Past for a Brighter Future, wants to prevent SPC from sharing in that fate and is calling on the community to support the iconic space. On August 25th, the public is invited to a Heritage Dinner at the Docks, hosted at the Cobourg Yacht Club, in support of the campaign.
“From its very beginning, SPC has played a key role in our town’s history. In fact, the first rector of the parish had a hand in giving Cobourg its current name,” says Randy Barber, vice-president
of the Cobourg and District Historical Society and fundraising committee. “The building we see today was designed by famed Ontario architect, Kivas Tully, who also built Victoria Hall and
advised on the building of Queen’s Park.”
The building’s rich history has made it a key tourist attraction, drawing visitors to Cobourg’s East Heritage Conservation District. But its value lies just as much in the present as it does in the past.
Meal and safe space programs are growing in response to increasing need in the community.
“SPC is a vital hub and a safe space for Cobourg’s most vulnerable and marginalized populations,” says Patricia Perkin, SPC warden and outreach volunteer. “We use this space for our weekly meal and outreach programs, which have continued to grow in response to increasing pressures placed on people by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
A Heritage Dinner at the Docks is planned for Thursday August 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cobourg Yacht Club.
Those interested in purchasing tickets can get more information at www.stpeterscobourg.org
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
