After the closure of the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in 2012, the building sat empty for 2 ½ years. Significant moisture damage from condensation occurred in much of the building. In addition to bringing the building up to modern building codes ( mainly fire and electrical),there was significant brick repointing and window repair needed, as well as paint and drywall damage repair necessary.
Original estimates indicated $180, 000 was needed immediately… and $700,000 in the first 10 years. Follow us on our journey as we preserve this beautiful historic building, ensuring our rich Canadian heritage can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Current renovation projects and Initiatives 2024
Plans are underway to convert the former Knights room into a youth drop in Centre. Successful grants will pay for the rewiring and updating of the lighting system, and books have been donated by a Detroit area public library. We are doing this on a very strict budget so there will be nothing too fancy, but it is a place to gather – and that’s really what everyone really needs.
Cushions are being made for all the pews.
Three more stained glass windows will be removed for complete restoration.
A “Memory Wall” is in the concept stage.
A historical archive of the stained glass windows is underway.
Lighting upgrades will be made to the nave stage lights, as well as installation of remote operation of main hall lights.
Tower eavestroughs, fascia and soffit will be repaired.
Fundraising continues to replace five main entrance doors to Kingsbridge Centre.
Building Improvements by by Year
May – August 2015
Brick and stone repointing. All sides of church + 1 day on rectory
Window storm glazing 6 in tower & 3 south sanctuary /nave.
Wood repair on windows
Paint west end of nave
Electrical Code
Emergency Lights and Alarms
Eavetrough downspouts
Roof Repair (Crane & Contractor
Repair choir loft beam
Decommission furnaces
Screens on Louvers
Transform former rectory into rental property “kingsbridge in the country”
September 1, 2015- August 31, 2016
Storm glazing of windows in tower and south side completed
- New downspouts around church
- Smoke alarms and CO2 detectors installed
- Work bees held in Nov to clean up grounds, garage and basement.
- Work bees held in Jan to remove mold affect material in basement.
- New utility room in basement constructed by volunteers
- Installation of new heating system started and completed by July of 2016
- Church basement improvements include interior foundation drain, concrete floor over previous exposed dirt floor, insulation and new drywall on ceiling and exterior walls
September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017
Preparation of design drawings for construction of washroom, kitchen and entrance in basement , construction of interior stairs to basement and accessibility lift.
Install storm glazing on two east windows
Completion of Stage 2 renovations to basement including painting, lighting, trim and new flooring.
Completion of accessible washroom on main floor of Kingsbridge Centre
New flooring and paint in Knight’s room
Purchase of lighting and A/V equipment
New marquee sign
September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Painted and installed tempered storm glazing on 4 west windows of the centre
Stage 3 renovations to basement hall have begun. Stage 3 will see building and completion of washrooms, building of kitchen and upgrading of entrance to hall.
Lighting upgrades include new exterior lights by front entrance stairs and new lobby lights.
Shelving purchased and installed in hall storage room.
New stage microphones purchased and installed
September 1 2018- August 2019
The Basement
The basement has been completely gutted, the old cement floor removed, and was renovated in stages as funds permitted. The lower of level “Kingsbridge Centre Hall “ was opened for public use August 18, 2019.
Stage One 2016 : furnace and storage area is complete – thanks to fundraising and an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, $7200 in in-kind donations from supporters… and 49 volunteer contributing 379 hours!
Stage Two 2017 :small meeting room and main hall is complete thanks to fundraising, a FCC Agrispirit grant, A Hydro One Safe Communities Grant, a New Horizons for Seniors Program grant $2600 in Kind donations from supporters…and 51 volunteers contributing 1367 hours of labour!
Stage 3 2018-2019 renovations included accessible washrooms, a kitchen, mechanical room and inside basement access stairs.The quotes for this stage of renovations totalled $369,077 . Due to the cost, Stage 3 was divided into 3 phases, all of which are complete.
Phase One. The accessible washrooms, the main hallway/foyer, a mechanical room and a coat room. The construction on this phase was complete August 2019 thanks to Jim Van Osch Construction, and the help of 43 volunteers donating 343 hours of time.
Phase Two Inside access stairs, south east corner, project completed May 2019
Phase Three The kitchen construction was completed in August of 2019, appliances were installed early 2020, and kitchen supplies were purchased and organized
Renovations September 1 2019- August 1 2021
Centre closed due to Covid-19
The four west windows ( behind the altar) have been restored and re-leaded and are now vibrant and secure.
Thirteen additional windows have been storm glazed, which completes the five year process of protecting all the stained glass windows in Kingsbridge!
The tower area was retrofitted with a lift for access between levels.
A sound board and speakers have been installed upstairs to improve the listening experience at future performance and concert events.
The roof on the rectory garage has been replaced.
Some paint has been updated, including the doors to the Centre.
New chairs and tables have been purchased for the lower level
Kitchen cupboards, commercial dishwasher installed and kitchen is furnished ( dishes, pots, coffee makers etc)
Basement curtains installed, donor wall is completed
Renovations Sept 1 2021 – August 1 2022
The stage/altar area has been strengthened and painted.
The carpet in the upper level has been replaced.
A power door opener has been installed on the accessible washroom upstairs.
Sound panels have been installed in the main hall to reduce echo.
The sound system has been upgraded on the upper level ,with the capability of sound for outside events at the Centre .
Minor projects such as painting, organizing and adding the finishing touches to the lower level main hall are still ongoing.
Renovations Sept 1 2022- August 1 2023
The restoration of the plaster in the bell tower
Three more stained glass windows have been removed, repaired and paint restored
Kingsbridge in the Country (the rectory ) , has been updated including a new shower, toilet , refurbished front sitting area, new kitchen cupboards, “new” used furniture and paint.
Three new yard lights – check out the South west corner parking lot and the front steps
The parking lot has been graveled.
There are more Improvements to Kingsbridge Centre’s sound system
New more responsive and interactive website with the ability for ecommerce.
New refrigerator for the food booth.
Stage was strengthened and painted.
A power door opener was installed in the accessible washroom