Front page of today’s Hamilton Spectator: Wentworth Baptist is teaming up with Indwell to save its century-old church and build 40 affordable-housing units.
Congratulations to the developer and congregation! This shows what is possible: supporting both housing and heritage in Hamilton. Like St. Giles, Wentworth Baptist is in Ward 3’s Gibson neighbourhood.
From Teviah Moro’s article:
“A Hamilton church is teaming up with a local faith-based agency to save its sanctuary and build 40 affordable-housing units.
Indwell, a force in deeply affordable, supportive apartments in Hamilton, has purchased the Wentworth Baptist Church property.
“We’ve very excited,” Rev. Seán McGuire said on behalf of the roughly 65-member congregation Tuesday. “Indwell can provide the homes, and we provide a bit of hope at the same time.”
The plan is to restore the 97-year-old sanctuary at the corner of Cannon Street East and demolish a two-storey section that was last renovated in 1993.”
From Indwell’s press release:
“We’re thrilled to be helping Wentworth Baptist imagine a new future for their historic building, while continuing their legacy of providing benefit to the community with permanent solutions to homelessness and housing insecurity. We look forward to creating hope and homes, places of belonging and community,” says Graham Cubitt, Indwell’s director of projects and development.
This will be Indwell’s first affordable housing community in Hamilton’s Gibson neighbourhood. More information and opportunities for public input on the project will become available throughout 2021.
The 1920s church was designed by Hutton & Souter, the Hamilton architects behind Delta Collegiate, Old Cathedral High School, and the Basilica of Christ the King complex visible from the 403.
On Tuesday, Matt Ingram covered the story for the CHCH evening news:
Spectator print edition: “Housing and faith converge at Wentworth Baptist” (May 19, 2021, A1, A7) | online: “Indwell purchases Hamilton church to build affordable units”
The Hamilton Spectator (est. 1846) is published by Metroland Media Group, a division of Torstar. CHCH-TV (est. 1954) provides broadcast news for Hamilton and the surrounding Halton and Niagara regions.
Photos: Indwell, Cathie Coward.
Sarah Sheehan 