The Roman Catholic Diocese of London has approved work on an application to declare Assumption Church in Windsor, a Nationally Significant Historical Site.
Paul Mullins, who is leading the effort to restore the church at the corner of University Avenue West and Huron Church Road, said the designation could open up new fundraising sources for renovations.
Phase one of restorations are done and came in under budget. That included a new roof, a new heating system, and the removal of asbestos.
Originally that work was expected to cost $2.25-million. The budget was then trimmed to $1.6-million.
With a little leftover, LED lighting went in the service area, fire alarms were upgraded, and new access doors installed to the basement.
Phase two is already underway. Mullins said that includes plaster consolidation and restoring the paint inside the building. Pupatello Construction has been retained to do the work on east aisle has begun, and depending on the funding, it could finish by the fall.
So far, there is $750,000 in the bank for phase two renovations. The group has a pledge for another $250,000 by the end of August. After that, it will need another $200,000 to complete the work.
After the east aisle wraps up, work will move to the west aisle. That could cost another $1.25-million.
"We would continue directly to do that work if we have the money to do it," said Mullins. "I'm hoping we'll have that by the time we finish [the east aisle]."
Mullins said the group is hopeful senior governments will provide some stimulus funding to kick start the economy after the pandemic.
"We've invested all that we need to invest in architectural and engineering work so that we are shovel ready if funds become available from that source," explained Mullins.
The iconic church reopened last September to parishioners after it closed in 2014. When it closed, its fate was in doubt after a report to the Diocese identified $15-million in needed repairs.
The parish was founded in 1728, and the current building dates back to 1842.
