.jpg)
EIGHT years after fire razed the twin towers of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery on Main Street, Georgetown, on the Christmas morning 2004, the church is expected to rise from the ashes to its former glory by August, 2013. This was disclosed by Chairman of the Sacred Heart rebuilding committee, Mr. Ramsay Ali in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Fridayt.
According to Mr. Ali, the rebuilding process started in August 2009, with the clearing of the land and the building of the fence, after which an estimate of $85M was given by architects for the construction of the church.
He indicated that to date the committee has managed to raise $56M and assured that the remaining funds would be acquired in time to ensure the completion of the building by August of this year.
Mr. Ali said that most of the funding came from corporate businesses in Guyana, noting that local businesses have contributed $25M.
He added that donations were also received from former Sacred Heart parishioners, particularly from Toronto, Canada, and more persons are donating from overseas and locally, as the rebuilding process is progressing.
According to him, they will also need an additional $20M for the furnishing of the church, as well as $7M to construct a care taking building at the rear of the church, which he hopes will all be done this year.
He noted that for almost seven years, the members of the Sacred Heart Church have been worshipping at the Ursuline Convent, and the persons there have been very accommodating.
He indicated that the church doesn’t need to be completely furnished before the members begin occupying it, as once they occupy the building the rest of the things will come.
Mr. Ali is encouraging persons to come forward to donate to this worthy cause, the rebuilding of one of the country’s oldest historical buildings and a national heritage site.
The Christmas morning fire was suspected by church members to be of electrical origin, as decorative lights in the nativity crib at the altar began sparking during the mass.
Eye witnesses told the Guyana Chronicle that around 08:45 hourswhen the final hymn during the morning mass was being sung; one of the decorative light bulbs around the symbolic crib depicting the birth of Christ exploded and started the fire
The crib was immediately engulfed in flames, and in a matter of minutes, the entire building was ablaze, as worshippers fled.
Sixty five parishioners escaped unhurt, and witnesses said that the firefighters, who arrived shortly after the fire began, could not have done anything to save the buildings, except to put out the blaze and prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.
However, the adjoining Sacred Heart Primary School was also razed to the ground, displacing the students who attended that school.
Members of the church lamented the loss of invaluable records and treasured items which they described as “irreplaceable”
The church of the sacred heart was built by father Schembri, an Italian, during 1859-1861 and was opened at midnight mass on December 25, 1861
The plot of land on which the church was built was bought for $1,000 and it was estimated that the total cost of constructing the building was $18,000.
The church was among the 13 monuments selected in Georgetown’s nomination of structures and placed as a world heritage site.
It was an imposing structure built mainly of wood, and inside the church was uniquely intimate with a wonderfully decorated altar, beautifully illuminated, giving it a very radiant touch whenever services were held.
The building had towers reaching into the skies, as well as a clock that chimed every hour.
Persons desirous of making donations towards the rebuilding of the church are asked to do so at Republic Bank Guyana: 268-496-7; Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry: CIDA 802530; New Building Society: 134769, Scotiabank Guyana: 10006626 or visit them online at: www.sacredheart.gy.a
According to Mr. Ali, the rebuilding process started in August 2009, with the clearing of the land and the building of the fence, after which an estimate of $85M was given by architects for the construction of the church.
He indicated that to date the committee has managed to raise $56M and assured that the remaining funds would be acquired in time to ensure the completion of the building by August of this year.
Mr. Ali said that most of the funding came from corporate businesses in Guyana, noting that local businesses have contributed $25M.
He added that donations were also received from former Sacred Heart parishioners, particularly from Toronto, Canada, and more persons are donating from overseas and locally, as the rebuilding process is progressing.
According to him, they will also need an additional $20M for the furnishing of the church, as well as $7M to construct a care taking building at the rear of the church, which he hopes will all be done this year.
He noted that for almost seven years, the members of the Sacred Heart Church have been worshipping at the Ursuline Convent, and the persons there have been very accommodating.
He indicated that the church doesn’t need to be completely furnished before the members begin occupying it, as once they occupy the building the rest of the things will come.
Mr. Ali is encouraging persons to come forward to donate to this worthy cause, the rebuilding of one of the country’s oldest historical buildings and a national heritage site.
The Christmas morning fire was suspected by church members to be of electrical origin, as decorative lights in the nativity crib at the altar began sparking during the mass.
Eye witnesses told the Guyana Chronicle that around 08:45 hourswhen the final hymn during the morning mass was being sung; one of the decorative light bulbs around the symbolic crib depicting the birth of Christ exploded and started the fire
The crib was immediately engulfed in flames, and in a matter of minutes, the entire building was ablaze, as worshippers fled.
Sixty five parishioners escaped unhurt, and witnesses said that the firefighters, who arrived shortly after the fire began, could not have done anything to save the buildings, except to put out the blaze and prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.
However, the adjoining Sacred Heart Primary School was also razed to the ground, displacing the students who attended that school.
Members of the church lamented the loss of invaluable records and treasured items which they described as “irreplaceable”
The church of the sacred heart was built by father Schembri, an Italian, during 1859-1861 and was opened at midnight mass on December 25, 1861
The plot of land on which the church was built was bought for $1,000 and it was estimated that the total cost of constructing the building was $18,000.
The church was among the 13 monuments selected in Georgetown’s nomination of structures and placed as a world heritage site.
It was an imposing structure built mainly of wood, and inside the church was uniquely intimate with a wonderfully decorated altar, beautifully illuminated, giving it a very radiant touch whenever services were held.
The building had towers reaching into the skies, as well as a clock that chimed every hour.
Persons desirous of making donations towards the rebuilding of the church are asked to do so at Republic Bank Guyana: 268-496-7; Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry: CIDA 802530; New Building Society: 134769, Scotiabank Guyana: 10006626 or visit them online at: www.sacredheart.gy.a
