While some churches are struggling to find ways to fund maintenance and repairs, the people of Freshwater, Carbonear have come together to restore the doors to the local United Church.

Dave Moriarty says Eric Parsons, a local resident in his 80s, saw that the wooden doors to the church needed some work, and took it upon himself to restore them.

Moriarty says that’s when Reverend Wayne Cole reached out to local artist Rocky Nicholson, and together they designed and created some stained glass windows to finish the project. He says they originally had some opaque glass to put back there, but Reverend Cole and Nicholson made stained glass windows that he calls “absolutely beautiful.”

Moriarty says the church is the focal point of the community and as such, they’ve opened the doors in the summer months as an art gallery. He says the project is possible through a grant to hire local students.

The students curate the art show, featuring works by local artists that are on sale.

He indicates it’s a win-win, because it draws visitors into the community and benefits the artists and the students.