Historic church at Orwell Corner, P.E.I., gets new lease on life
'It's long overdue and it's great that we can start using it'
The historic 1861 church at Orwell Corner Historic Village is once again open for business, hosting its first concert in almost 50 years.
Not only was the church forced to shut down for repairs the last few summers after ants damaged the structure, for the last 47 years it was also under strict instructions not to host ceremonies such as weddings or events like concerts.
It's going to be a great evening for a cultural piece of P.E.I. we all love.— Tim Chaisson, singer-songwriter
"It's long overdue and it's great that we can start using it," said Jim Culbert.
Culbert is on the board of the Orwell Corner Pioneer Village Corporation, which helps oversee operations and raises funds for improvements to the historic village — part of P.E.I.'s network of small, local museums.
'Walk back in time'
There were five United churches in the area that amalgamated 47 years ago, Culbert explains, forming one congregation at St. Andrews United in Vernon Bridge. The small churches were decommissioned and several were torn down, with the one at Orwell being allowed to stand — as long as it was used only for display.
"It was just a walk back in time to what Presbyterian churches looked like at the end of the 1800s," explains Elizabeth Boys-Leath, the chair of Orwell's board.
A couple of years ago, the Orwell board sought permission from the local parish to lift the ban and use the church once again.
"We're very excited because it's the first time we've had a concert there," said Boys-Leath.
The church has very good acoustics, she notes, and seats 250 people or more — much larger than the 75-seat village hall the board has occasionally used for concerts or ceilidhs.
'Whole new venue'
"It gives us a whole new venue to share what Orwell is all about," enthuses the historic site's director Jason McNeill.
The village is a real historic site that offers visitors a view on life in 1895 P.E.I., complete with farm animals, a general store, a school house and, of course, the church.
Culbert, who is also a licensed marriage commissioner, has already performed a wedding there — the first same-sex wedding the old church has ever hosted.
Tim Chaisson will play the inaugural concert of traditional tunes Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., and he's excited.
"I remember my first trip to Orwell Corner Historic Village when I was still at Fortune Consolidated School — they made ice cream right in front of me, how could I forget?" Chaisson writes on Facebook.
"It's going to be a great evening for a cultural piece of P.E.I. we all love," Chaisson adds.
Generating interest, and power
There's no electricity at the church, so the concert will be lit with help from generators, Boys-Leath explains. The board hopes to eventually fundraise enough money to install discreet electricity in the structure.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door, through Orwell Corner or Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown.
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