By Robin Maughan
Bailieboro and Springville United Churches were two small congregations along Peterborough County Road 28 between Port Hope and Peterborough, Ontario. In the decade before 2018, the congregations found their numbers decreasing and the weekly revenue less than the weekly expenses. Both congregations had sold their church buildings and manses to reduce costs and were meeting in rented space. The income from the sale of the buildings was being consumed by local expenses.
What to do? They could continue on until the funds ran out. They could close their congregations. Or they could create a legacy for their community.
They decided on the third choice. After many meetings, workshops and debates, they decided to partner with Habitat for Humanity, Peterborough and Kawartha Region, to build a home in their area.
What does this mean? A Habitat home would be built locally. It would be sold to a family without a down payment. The mortgage would never exceed 30% of the family’s income. The home would be built to be energy efficient, helping reduce utility costs for the family. Owned by the family when built, the home would also be protected for future generations through Habitat PKR’s commitment to keeping the home affordable for ever. Should the family ever choose to sell, Habitat PKR would re-purchase the home to sup-port another local family into affordable home ownership. This plan was not a hand-out; it was a hand-up at a time where the housing market is so far beyond the reach of many hard working families. This plan would create a true legacy for our church congregations.
The plan to partner with Habitat for Humanity was passed at a congregational meeting in July 2018. Now the work began. Finding an affordable building lot in the area was a challenge. A family in the congregation, Don and Pat Wood, offered to donate land from their farm to build the home. There were many challenges ahead: transferring ownership to Habitat PKR, satisfying environmental, county and township requirements. Not until 2025 did Habitat receive ownership and a building permit for the property.
In the summer of 2025, the foundation slab was poured. By fall the walls went up, and work began on the house. Skilled tradespeople employed for specific on-site jobs, along with volunteer labour provided by congregation members and donated materials had the home almost completed by Christmas.
On January 11 2026, the home was dedicated and the new family was given the keys to their new home. The family moved in the next week. They were thrilled to have a home. Our church legacy was complete.
The Bailieboro and Springville congregations amalgamated with neighboring Millbrook(St. Andrew’s) and Cavan to become Harmony Pastoral Charge. With no church buildings of their own, for a time they entered into a rental agreement with Centreville Presbyterian Church in the hamlet of South Monaghan on County Road 28.That relationship has deepened and developed into a formal agreement of shared ministry between the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada for this active community of faith.