A photographer from Hope took a road trip, hoping to capture images of an historic B.C. church this weekend, but was shocked at what he discovered.

Ray Daws says he and his wife drove to Quilchena, just outside of Merritt, to photograph the Murray United Church, which was built 143 years ago. Instead, they found a charred building where the charming church once stood.

香蕉视频直播淭o our dismay, we found a pile of ashes being combed over by the pastor and his wife (Jack and Mavis Polmans),香蕉视频直播� said Daws, who sometimes contributes photos to this newspaper. 香蕉视频直播淎pparently the church was hit by an arsonist on Jan. 11, 2019, who also torched three other churches in the area on the same night.香蕉视频直播�

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Daws hadn香蕉视频直播檛 heard the news earlier this year, and reached out to share his discovery with others in Hope who may not realize the landmark is no longer there. He also wanted to let people know that there are plans to rebuild the church and a is collecting donations toward the efforts.

香蕉视频直播淭his may be a repeat story, however I thought it might be a good read for the people in Hope and they might want to contribute.香蕉视频直播�

And while he didn香蕉视频直播檛 get the photos he had intended to take, Daws did leave with a memento of sorts.

香蕉视频直播淟ooking through the ashes we found a few charred pages of a Bible that the pastor said we could have,香蕉视频直播� he said. And chances are, in years to come there will be a familiar site in Quilchena.

The GoFundMe was last updated in late July with a journal entry that says 香蕉视频直播渂uilding plans are now being drawn up in the progression of the rebuild!香蕉视频直播�

It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 list an exact timeline for the rebuild, but says there have been 香蕉视频直播渃ountless hours spent by members of Trinity United in Merritt, along with some very dedicated community members,香蕉视频直播� pushing toward the resurrection of the church.

The historic Murray United Church on Highway 5A in the Nicola Valley was built in 1876. It had recently been refurbished through grant money from Canada 150 and was more than a church to the small community, hosting antique quilt shows, weddings, concerts and more.

香蕉视频直播淭he grant money was used to repaint the inside and outside, repair the windows and walkways of the cemetery as well as place a memorial stone of those in unmarked graves, in its small, but rich historical cemetery,香蕉视频直播� the GoFundMe explains. 香蕉视频直播淭his included over 2,500 hours of volunteer work, a three-year project that was just completed this last year in 2018.香蕉视频直播�

One of the features left at the church include its original brick chimney.

- with files from Canadian Press

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