The historic Murray Church, which was destroyed by arson in Jan. 2019, recently held a ground-breaking ceremony, beginning the process of rebuilding. However, that doesn’t mean fundraising efforts aren’t still ongoing, with a Christmas ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign.

“We thought it would be great as one last push for fundraising and to give people the opportunity to be a part of the Murray Church Project,” said Fundraising Liaison Coordinator Christina Miller.

“We are charging $50 for a ‘virtual brick’ and encouraging people to donate in someone’s name or their own, this will go toward rebuilding the chimney with the original bricks. There will be a plaque in the new church listing all the names for which the bricks were purchased. It’s a way to honour someone, instead of buying them a gift, a way to allow people to be a part of the history of the rebuild. Who needs another sweater or useless gift? This is the gift that keeps on giving!”

Donations for the rebuild project have so far reached nearly $170,000, with the end goal being $200,000.

While the option to donate to the GoFundMe is no longer possible, people can contact the Trinity United Church directly to make donations, including buying a virtual brick, and receive tax receipts.

Art cards are also available for sale featuring the work of the late Dody Walters of Kamloops. Walters’ family has donated the cards, which include drawings of historical buildings within the Nicola Valley such as the Murray Church, Quilchena Hotel, the old railway station, courthouse and others.

The cards are $3.00 each or 4/$10.00 and available at Trinity United Church, the Baillie House and the Arts Gallery.

The group is hopeful that the church will be finished and open to the public sometime next summer, meaning that Christmas services may once again be held within its walls in 2021, continuing the church’s nearly 150-year history since its original construction in 1867.