It’s been six years since the St. Anne’s Preservation Society began the effort to raise funds to repair the ailing church on South Main Street. And the organization is making headway toward restoring the 153-year-old historic structure.
The main church was closed in 2015 after years of leaks caused plaster to fall off the walls in the upper church. Masses were still held in the downstairs shrine until November 2018, when it was deemed too costly for the parish to remain sustainable. The preservation society negotiated an agreement with the Diocese of Fall River in 2019 to take over the operation of the church with the hopes of making necessary repairs to reopen it as a Diocesan parish.
The preservation society has raised funds through individual and corporate donations, and the sale of candles and church memorabilia in its gift shop. The organization has also received funds from the city’s Community Preservation Committee earmarked for repairs to the exterior of the church.
Private donations have also made it possible to renovate several chapels located in the downstairs shrine, which has reopened for prayer and special services. The next step is to complete repairs to the outside of the building while addressing work to the interior of the upper church.
The preservation society will hold its annual fundraising banquet, featuring remarks by the Most Reverend Sean Cardinal O’Malley, former Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River.
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