Dominion-Chalmers United Church faces uncertain financial future

A historic downtown Ottawa church that's well-known for hosting concerts and music festivals is reassessing its financial future as its congregation dwindles and ages.

"Our money's going to run out in about four or five years. We're starting now," said James Murray, minister at Dominion-Chalmers United, on Sunday.

"There's no for sale sign out on the front lawn. We're just starting now to ask the questions, how do we rebuild, how do we build for the long term."

Despite being a popular venue for festivals like Chamberfest and the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the church's congregation has declined sharply over the years — from about 2,000 people in the 1960s to between 80 and 100 today.

The average age of the congregation is also in the mid-70s.

"We know we're not alone. There are a lot of churches that are struggling," said Peter Fischer, chair of Dominon-Chalmers' board of trustees and a member of the congregation for more than two decades.

Built in the 1910s, the church used a significant amount of its financial assets to "modernize" the church in the early 2000s — by installing air conditioning and a modern kitchen and by making the building wheelchair-accessible, said Fischer.

However, Dominion-Chalmers' location in the heart of Ottawa's downtown means it is a desirable property, Fischer added.

"We know that we're in a really preferred location here so it gives us some options that other people wouldn't have, other churches wouldn't have. I don't think we've ever lost faith."

Running a deficit

The costs to keep a heritage building like Dominion-Chalmers operating can be "astronomical," said David Hayman, chair of the church's governing body and its long-range financial planning committee.

Dominion-Chalmers has been "running a deficit for the past couple of years," Hayman said, and the congregation has a couple of difficult decisions ahead of it — including whether it wants to stay together, and whether it wants to remain in the O'Connor Street building.

"The clock is ticking," he said.

The church has, however, launched new initiatives to try to draw new people to Dominion-Chalmers, including a Saturday morning speaker series called "Café Church."

There are also "redevelopment options" being considered for the church's spacious parking lot, said Hayman.

Whatever Dominion-Chalmers' future involves, the arts community will play a major role, Murray said.

"This is a special place. There are over 70 concerts a year held here right now. And there's more potential down the road for that to be developed," said Murray.

"Part of our future has to include the arts community in some way, shape or form."