Assumption Church Closes After 172 Years

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Over 600 churchgoers in West Windsor today celebrated what could be the last day of mass at historic Assumption Church.

Service was held at 11am in the 172-year-old building which the Diocese of London — the church’s owner — had scheduled for closure at the end of the day on November 2nd.

Parishioners at Assumption will move to Holy Name of Mary church on McEwan Street as of next weekend to keep the 286-year-old parish community alive.

But Bishop Ronald Fabbro stressed that it may not be the end for the Huron Church building if a $10 million donation comes through.

“We are going to the other church, Holy Name of Mary Church, but we are not closing this church,” said Fabbro. “In fact we are still hoping that we will be able to do the renovations and return to this church.”

Fabbro expressed hope that private funding could materialize in the coming weeks to months.

“I’m optimistic because we’re still in discussion with a donor who is willing to come forward with the money,” he said.

Fabbro said that should everything go according to plan with the securing of funds, the church community would be consulted on how to move along with a repair and restoration process that could take years to complete.

But the official word: the church building will not be used from this day forward so as to “preserve the building and to prevent additional damage as much as possible,” according to a statement released on the church’s website.

Despite the sombre mood expressed by parishioners over the closure of their building, Fabbro said prayers are in order.

“What I was hearing was, ‘we are praying hard that there will be a day we can return to our church.'”