Congregation to continue services
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Trinity United Church in Cookshire has been sold to Espace culturel Cookshire-Eaton, a non-profit organization founded by local businessman and philanthropist Gilles Denis. The sale ensures the historic church, built in 1863, will remain a community landmark and continue to host both religious services and cultural events.
Don Parsons, one of the church’s trustees, confirmed the sale and emphasized that it was a necessary step for the aging congregation. “We’ve been talking about it for a while, and we got permission from the United Church of Canada to sell it, if we had the opportunity,” he said.
Denis, who has supported the church for decades, first became involved in 1998 when Trinity United received $63,000 in restoration funds from the Quebec government. “We had to spend about $100,000 in total on repairs, including fixing the steeple and putting on a new roof,” Parsons explained. Denis played a key role in the restoration efforts, helping the church secure additional funding and suggesting fundraising initiatives, such as concerts. Over the years, his commitment to preserving the church remained strong, culminating in his recent offer to purchase the property.
The sale is a financial relief for the church community, which has struggled to maintain the building. In 2020, an oil spill required a costly cleanup, and ongoing repairs—including work on the bell tower and interior staircase—presented an additional burden. “We’re an older congregation. Our youngest member is around 65, and it’s getting harder to maintain the church,” Parsons said.
Denis’s offer was within the range recommended by real estate evaluations. The United Church of Canada initially suggested seeking a slightly higher price, but after negotiations, an agreement was reached. The transaction, facilitated as a private sale by real estate agent Terri Goodsell, is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
