'Chouse': From a southern Ontario house of worship to a family home
It’s a trend that has become popular in the last decade. Purchasing old property with lots of character and renovating it into a dream home.
A couple from Parkhill, Ont.did just that, with a twist.
In November 2020, Kendra Halpenny and her fiancé Shane Cormier bought an old Methodist Church, built in 1898, and transformed it into 3,800 square feet of living space for their family.
But the couple says it wasn’t an easy task.
"We really thought ‘what did we get ourselves into?’ But we fell in love with the ceilings,” said Halpenny.
The 18 foot cathedral ceiling with the original hand-crafted wood work, is just one of the many features that stand out upon entering the home — affectionately dubbed the ‘chouse.’
Not wanting to disturb the pre-existing building and maintain as much character as possible, the couple kept the stained glass windows and the wood framing around them, along with original brick work in many parts of the home.
Inside the former Greenway Church turned family home, Nov. 15, 2022. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London)
The church, which also came with a barn and half an acre of land, was purchased for $345,000 in November 2020. At the time that seemed like a steal, but with the cost of renovating during the pandemic, the total ballooned to roughly $750,000.
“I think we were pretty naive when we got into this, we had a budget in mind and we blew that up,” said Cormier.
The couple told CTV News the property was essentially a shell and would require a lot of work.
“It was completely gutted from the previous owner. So when we came in there were stairs missing, there were no walls, it was just completely the bare bones of the building,” said Halpenny.
The house now features a grand open concept living space on the main level with three bedrooms and an additional family room in the lower level.
The former Greenway Church turned family home, Nov. 15, 2022. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London)And if you're wondering, since it's an old church and all, if there are any spirits still lingering, Halpenny said... "I don't know if it's my mind playing tricks on me or if you just hear things because it's an old building, but we've definitely scared our daughter a couple of times by telling her we can hear people walking upstairs.”
Despite the lengthy and costly renovation the couple said it was worth it.
"Now that we're here and we see the fruits of our labour, I think we're both happy that we went through the process and we both love the place," said Cormier.
The family is taking their time furnishing their forever home and hope to have a massive Christmas tree in the future, after all, they certainly have the ceiling space for it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
TSB concludes investigation into cause of London, Ont. freight train fire
More than two weeks after a freight train with several railcars ablaze rolled through the heart of the Forest City, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has concluded its investigation.