“The Church" in Byranston, Ontario

I have been asked many times over since purchasing my 1895 Presbyterian Church “Why did you purchase a church?” And honestly, I wasn’t looking for a church - it wasn’t a methodical, intentional or a “must-have” purchase. The purchase just happened. Why not purchase a church?

Long and short of my intentions were to sell my house high and move back to the USA where I could purchase a house with land to run my business mortgage free or with very little mortgage. I had been looking in Southwestern Ontario for years, but with the prices and the bidding wars making it impossible to buy what I wanted or needed here in Ontario. Moving to the east coast did not interest me at all. I am Canadian, so yes, I would have to apply for a VISA and wait 4-5 months (if not longer) for approval. I was willing to wait for the process - I just wanted something that would work and be a fit for my lifestyle and personality. I had already been down this path of moving to the US, so it was familiar to me. I had amazing friends in the US, just like I have amazing friends here in Canada, therefore I wouldn’t be alone. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision. My decision was well thought out and researched.

I sold my house in March 2022, put my things is storage, moved to friend’s house and was about to begin the process of my move south. I had contacted real estate agents in Texas, Georgia, Arizona and pretty much anywhere I found something that I liked. On one day at the end of April, I decided to cruise around on MLS to see what prices were still in London and Norfolk County, ON. This church popped up. It had only been on a market a day. The price was reasonable and it peeked my interest. I called my real estate agent to set a time to go an view it that day when I got home from work. She was surprised to hear I wanted to see it, because I was getting ready to move to the US. I just wanted to see. When I walked in, I fell in love but didn’t get my hopes up. I put an offer in but all of a sudden all offers were not going to be looked at until Tuesday because they had lots of interest in the property (I went to view the property on a Friday). That was fine, I already knew I was not going to get in a bidding war. There was no need for me at this point or any point to do so. So I waited, not patiently until Tuesday (patience is not my best virtue). This building is a commercial building, which can be different for mortgages as well. Tuesday came, I got my offer in first and it was the same I had put in on Friday. NO ONE PUT AN OFFER IN! This little gem became mine. I would not get it for 3 months, July 29, 2022. I did not tell my family for a few days.

I know this little gem needed work - how much I was not anticipating. The bones, windows and all the important pieces of the church were solid and some new. Cosmetically interior - wise, that was a different story. The interior did not have a flow but had great potential. I did not hire a interior designer to help design my living space, but I did hire a damn good contractor who has a wife with a good eye for detail. My mom has also been there helping with her eye for detail. Between the four of us, we saw things at all different angles and no thought was not considered. Sometimes as an owner you get caught up in a detail and can not look past it to do what needs to be changed. It was great having other sets of eyes and Pinterest is my go-to app.

Has it been an easy property to purchase? - NO. Have I fallen in love with it more and more each day? - Yes. Have I cried and wondered “what the f&@# did I do?” and whispered to myself “I have no business owning this property?”- YES. Is this property my forever place? - YES. Do I have a plan for progress and transformation – Yes. The interior will be my main focus this year and the exterior will be my focus next year.

“The Church” will be mine for a very long time and then some. Now I feel it time to start telling this beauty’s story. There are no ugly parts to tell - just progress on transforming of a beautiful old building into mine. Here are some pictures from the MLS listing. I haven’t been able to find much history on this piece of property, but I will. I hope you continue to follow along.