Creston’s Trinity United Church has recently reopened after a fire broke out in the church on September 22, 2015. The church had celebrated its 90th anniversary in Creston earlier that spring.
The fire left extensive damage to the church’s worship space, kitchen and meeting hall, rendering it unusable. Demolition of the church’s hall and administration office was completed in April 2016.
During a congregation vision workshop, it quickly became apparent the congregation wanted to rebuild the church. Reconstruction of the church started on September 18, 2017.
Features of the new building include a gender-neutral washroom, fully functioning commercial kitchen, an assembly hall incorporated with a professional sound system and two meeting rooms. The entire building is handicapable.
The high-end commercial kitchen and meeting rooms are available for rent at affordable rates. “We are blessed in this valley to have an abundance of talented entrepreneurs. We wanted to provide entrepreneurs with an affordable accessible place to work,” said Reverend Paula Ashby.
The Trinity Treasures Thrift Shop is scheduled to reopen in time for Christmas. “We are actively looking for volunteers to be a part of the rebirth of Trinity Treasures Thrift Store,” said Karen Shannon general manager of the Trinity Treasures Thrift Shop. “We look forward to reopening we know many residents of Creston have missed the thrift shop.”
A free community lunch will take place every Wednesday at noon in the assembly hall.
“We are excited to finally be open for business and feel blessed to have a new building, We have lots of people to thank. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Creston community,” said Ashby.
Silverado Construction, a division of Treay Enterprises from Cranbrook, was selected by the church’s insurance adjuster to rebuild the church with a focus on local companies participating in the subcontracting. The subcontracting companies included:
- Z-KO Construction
- Truline Truss
- TraTech
- KD Electric
- Pyramid Building Supplies
- Sullivan Stone
- Choreboy Services Ltd
- MW Millwork
- Ralph Casemore Masonry
- Magas Roofing
- Morrison Insulation Ltd
- City Glass and Windshield Shop Ltd.
- The Woodworm
- Riemann’s Painting (2003) Inc
- Piva Mechanical
- C Systems Security
- Finish Line Drywall Ltd.
- Affordable Floors
- Pitbull Stucco
- Windsor Plywood
- Quality First Distribution
