A chorus of “go now in peace” rang through the air as residents mourned the loss of Nicola Valley’s oldest church on Sunday.

They used to gather inside, but on April 28 local residents stood before the pile of rubble that was once Murray Church to say goodbye.

Over 40 people gathered to bid farewell to Merritt’s oldest church on April 28. (Dara Hill/Herald).

The 143-year-old building — which stood among the pioneer buildings of the historic village of Nicola — burned to the ground in January after it was targeted by an alleged arsonist.

“We meet with the destruction of this Murray Church still visible around us. We see the ashes, we see the bell,” said Rev. Elaine Diggle, who led the service.

Rev. Elaine Diggle of Trinity United Church led Sunday’s worship. (Dara Hill/Herald).

She shared that it was this very church that led her into ministry, as Christmas Eve services at the little white church “drew her in.”

As eagles soared above, the group of over 40 who gathered below sang songs, shared stories and prayed for the old church.

The group watched in awe from below as eagles soared above during the last minutes of the service. (Dara Hill/Herald).

“Destruction by fire is not the end of church or a faith community. Few of us watched the terrible fire that engulfed Notre Dame in Paris … was the fire the end of Notre Dame? No,” Diggle said. “From the ashes has come the determination to rebuild that part of the cathedral that was so sorely damaged.”

In the Nicola Valley, the Trinity United Church board agreed to rebuild the church if the community could come up with the funds, estimated at $200,000.

As of April 29, $1,805 has been raised.

The board is also collecting memories of the church for an archive. Amrit Samra, a summer student who worked at Murray Church the past three summers, will be at it again this year spearheading the project.

Amrit Samra, the summer student who worked at Murray Church the past three summers, will be at it again this year spearheading an archive project in memory of the building. (Dara Hill/Herald).

Anyone with stories or photos to share is asked to email the Trinity United Church board at [email protected].

“We would love to hear your stories. It’s important — eventually we want to have a story board out here,” Diggle said.

Rieks Polmans made the urn 8 or 9 years ago, brother Jack Polmans said. It now holds ashes and other remains of the Murray Church. (Dara Hill/Herald).

All photos by Dara Hill/Herald