An entire community was devastated when the historic Murray Church, which had presided over the former Nicola townsite and cemetery for more than 140 years, was destroyed by arson in January 2019.

However, plans were made almost immediately to rebuild an exact replica of the beloved church, with donations soon pouring in from numerous individuals and businesses. These donations helped with the construction and finishing of the church, as well as all of the necessary adornments for the interior.

“I was on TV giving an interview and I said that one of the things we needed was pews, and I got a phone call from Kamloops, from the Anglican Church,” explained Jack Polmans, a member of the Trinity United Church board who helped spearhead the rebuild.

“They said we have spare ones, come pick them up.”

Although the pews were too long for the space and had to be modified, they look as if they have always been there. The two pews at the front of the church came all the way from Asquith, Sask., the home church of Project Fundraising Chair Christina Miller, as did the communion cup holder, patented in 1895.

The pulpit is similarly connected to Miller’s family.

“My parents saw this pulpit on the buy and sell in Salmon Arm and they went to the people and asked how much it was and explained it was for the Murray Church in Merritt,” explained Miller.

“My mom is also a history buff so she was interested in the history and where it came from. The lady said it was from a church in Winnipeg and my mom asked what church and she said the Lutheran Church, and it was my mom’s home church when they came over from Germany after the war.”

Now that the project is complete and the new Murray Church proudly stands alongside Hwy 5A once again, it seems as if all the stars aligned to make a reality of the goal.

“We’d like to thank the public for all their support, financial and in kind, that’s why she’s here, all the donations,” said Polmans, who noted that they came very close to their $180,000 fundraising target and received at least $40,000 in in-kind donations.

“It signified hope, that there was a church being built at a time when nobody was out of their houses and we were all hunkered down,” said Miller.

“But a church was going up, it was unbelievable really.”

This upcoming Easter Sunday will be the first service held that will be open to the public, which, Miller notes, is also known as Resurrection Sunday, fitting for a church that was resurrected from the ashes.

The service begins at 2:00PM, Easter bonnets welcome.