The battle for ownership of Holy Rosary Church in Portugal Cove South has come to a close after an anonymous buyer with ties to the community purchased the building for continued community enjoyment. From left are former mayor Clarence Molloy, Royal LePage realtor Clifford Power, Portugal Cove South Historical Corporation chairperson Cynthia Power, and Town Clerk Ida Perry. Portugal Cove South Historical Corporation photo
By Mark Squibb
The Holy Rosary Church in Portugal Cove South has been sold to a mystery buyer who has promised that it will remain a place of worship, bringing to a close a story that will be talked about in the community for years to come.
“I’m feeling very happy, excited, and relieved,” said Cynthia Power, who has been at the forefront of the battle to keep the church as a church after the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s put it, along with dozens of others, up for sale in 2022 to compensate child abuse victims.
“It’s been a long road, that’s for sure, but it all turned out good in the end,” said Power.
Members of the Portugal Cove South Historical Corporation received the keys last month, roughly six months after the Supreme Court granted an injunction prohibiting residents from interfering with the sale of the building after residents changed the locks to deter potential buyers.
“When the court ruling came down last spring, that was very difficult,” said Power. “It was very hard. But we respected the decision of the court, and we felt we had done the best we could to try and keep the church. I used to say to myself, ‘Maybe, just maybe, someone would come along and buy it for us.’ And, lo and behold, we had someone contact us and say they had a family connection to our community and that they would like to buy the church for the community and have it remain a place of worship.”
Power said it was imperative that the church continue as a church.
“We wanted it to remain with the community and to be a place of worship,” said Power. “So, please God, down the road we will continue to have Mass, maybe not on a regular basis, but as long as Father Peter (Golden) is around, I’m sure he will come out and have Mass with us on Christmas, New Year’s, Easter Sunday, things like that. Anyone who wants to get married in our church, that can happen, as well as baptisms and funerals. It’s a very happy time for our community.”
As to the mystery buyer, Power said she’s as much in the dark as anyone.
“I don’t actually even know the person’s name,” said Power. “Someone contacted us on their behalf. They do have a family connection to our community, but they wished to remain anonymous at this time, and we’re fine with that, we respect their decision.”
The cost of keeping the lights on, meanwhile, will be split between the Town of Portugal Cove South and the Portugal Cove South Historical Association.
Former Mayor Clarence Molloy, who was also involved the battle to keep the church, said he too was pleased with the sale.
“We’re certainly delighted to have our church back,” said Molloy. “Even though someone had to pay for it.”
Molloy said that while he always had a feeling that things would work out, the Supreme Court ruling certainly took the wind out of the group’s sails.
“We did all we could do, and there wasn’t much else we could do about it,” said Molloy. “But then this person came forward and purchased it for us.”
Folks in the community and beyond had raised nearly $130,000 for upgrades to the church shortly before it was put up for sale, and so Power doesn’t expect big maintenance bills in the near future.
“We are very, very grateful for the kindness of these people who bought the church for us, and for all of the support we have received since we made our stand,” said Power.
