Iglulik (Aug 14/06) - A sacred place where many Iglulik residents were baptised, married and eulogized has been bulldozed.

The community's Catholic stone church hadn't been used since the late 1970s and has since become a target for vandals. The stained glass windows were shattered in the 1980s and had to be replaced by boards, Father Tony Krotki said.

This stone church in Iglulik, built in the late 1950s, was demolished in early August. "It will take us a little time to make peace with it and let it go," Father Tony Krotki said. - photo courtesy of Father Tony Krotki

Wayward youth have desecrated the building, spray-painting its exterior and interior. They have turned it into a hang-out and some daringly ride their bicycles on the roof, Krokti said.

"It's very, very dangerous.

"It's a holy ground for us. I don't want to see all those writings on the wall. It's not appreciated."

The diocese offered the church to other agencies in hopes of salvaging it, but no one expressed interest, according to Krotki. Heritage Canada didn't respond to pleas for help, he added.

"It's pretty awful to see it go down, but we have no choice," he said. "It is very personal for some people. Some came to me and told me it's a sad day."

Marie Airut, a member of the parish council, said her parents and their neighbours prayed and sang hymns in the hallowed building.

"There's a lot of memories that are in our minds, not only me, but the older people that are living here in Iglulik," she said. "It's sad to see it go."

Mayor Paul Quassa agreed.

"It has a history by itself. It's unfortunate that we have to demolish it, but it's for the safety of the kids," he said, noting that he and his bride were married at the church's altar.

Under the direction of Father Louis Fournier, the structure was put together using stones hauled into the community by dog team. The first service was held in 1960.

Krotki said the building proved to be very cold in the winter and was extremely costly to heat. Therefore it was only used in the summer. St. Stephen's parish was built as an alternative in the 1970s.

The rock from the demolished church will continue to serve the community. Most of it will be deposited in the ocean to act as a breakwater for boats, said Krotki.

A few of the stones will be set aside for use in the building of a future church, "to keep a little bit of the past with us," he said.