Zion United Church. Photo Ed Halverson

The Zion United Church in Liverpool is a step closer to finding a new owner.

Chair of the church’s closure working group Ray Baker says after discussing it amongst themselves, the group brought Stephanie Sereda’s bid to the whole congregation for consideration.

Baker says the Zion congregation liked what they heard.

“It had people smiling and nodding their heads,” said Baker. “She talked about it, from her perspective, it not being just a business, but it was a passion project.”

Sereda plans to convert the church into a cultural centre, operating the lower level as a year-round maker’s market where artisans can showcase and sell their work.

She sees the upper level being used as a cultural and event space.

The congregation was also impressed with Sereda’s intentions to preserve the history of Zion United church, from the stained glass in the windows to asking if the church would be willing to loan church artifacts to be displayed for visitors.

“Keeping in mind it’s a sad and emotional time for the congregation, but to know that the transition would be something where they continue to see the church benefit the community as a whole is just amazing,” said Baker.

The congregation’s recommendation to sell Zion United to Sereda now goes to the United Church of Canada Regional Council 15 office for approval.

Baker says if permission is granted in a reasonable amount of time the church could be in new hands by May.

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Port Grocer in Port Medway. Photo Ed Halverson

The owner of the Port Grocer hopes whoever buys the establishment understands they’re taking responsibility for the heart of the seaside community.

Over the past seven years the Port Grocer has served Port Medway as café, local grocery store, post office, live music venue, yoga studio, community garden and showcase for local artisans.

Owner Annabelle Singleton says what’s most important is that whoever takes this on recognizes its connection to the community.

“We have had incredible support from this community. There’s such an eclectic, diverse group of people here and everyone’s got something different to add or offer.”

Singleton began the business seven years ago with her two friends Deb Melanson and Sparrow Lyndsey.

Lyndsey returned to Ontario because of family obligations seven months after launching the business, leaving Singleton and Melanson to run the show with help from Singleton’s husband Robie Sagar.

For Singleton, running the Port Grocer to provide locally-sourced food aligned with some of her core values.

“If you have healthy, small communities, rural communities where people can work and get their food, it means a lot less travel. It’s a lot lighter living on the Earth.”

Singleton says they are looking for a buyer who will understand the Port Grocer is more than just a business.

“There are elders here in the community who, basically, some days, the Port Grocer staff would be the only people they might communicate with. That sort of stuff is really important to us.”

Singleton says they’re selling after some family health issues and the pandemic have given them pause to reflect on what they want to be doing over the next few years.

“It comes down to a quality of life decision. As much as we love getting up early and staying late at the Port Grocer and being on call seven days a week, you know, there are other things that we want to do.”

Annabelle Singleton relaxing behind the soon to be for sale, Port Grocer. Photo Ed Halverson

Singleton says she and husband, Sagar will remain living in Port Medway. Singleton will continue working her day job as an environmental regulatory consultant and the two have plans to move their tiny home from behind the Port Grocer to their home and establish a small retreat.

The final preparations are being made with their real estate agent and Singelton expects the Port Grocer will hit the market in the next few weeks.

She’s grateful to everyone who has worked, volunteered or even just come in to eat over the years to help make the Port Grocer what it is.

“It’s been such an honour to be part of this and to get to know both the very local, and the summer residents and the people who are touring Nova Scotia and who found us by accident. People are blown away when they come to Port Medway. There’s something in the water here, I think. It’s magical.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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