Jets owner, The Brothers Landreth save dwindling Winnipeg church, give it added purpose
CTV
A saving grace for a dwindling Winnipeg church has come in the form of Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman and Juno-award-winning folk duo The Brothers Landreth.
A saving grace for a dwindling Winnipeg church has come in the form of Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman and Juno-award-winning folk duo The Brothers Landreth.
Dave and Joey Landreth are the newest tenants in St. Michael and All Angel's Anglican Church on the corner of Hugo Street North and Mulvey Avenue.
"The sunlight pouring in through the stained glass windows was the first thing I noticed," Dave told CTV News, standing in the sanctuary of the century-old church. "It was just beautiful in here, and it sounds great."
Parishioners have been worshipping at St. Michael since 1907, with the historic ornate stone structure built in 1920. When the pandemic hit, it had a big impact on the church's already dwindling congregation.
"The church had fallen on hard times, as many mainline denominations have with a smaller congregation, and so it was time to get creative or face closure," said Rev. Lauren Schoeck, the rector at the church, saying only about 10 people filled the pews on a Sunday morning.
That's when True North executive Mark Chipman, a long-time friend of the Landreth brothers, stepped in and offered a lifeline. He bought the building and invited the congregants of St. Michael and All Angel's Anglican Church to continue worshipping there.
"Nothing about our worship is changing," Schoek said, adding the church's services on Sunday and Thursday will continue. "The nice thing is now the building won't be empty."
