Don Smith, left, and Frank Letourneau were on hand September 11^th for the official opening of the Knights of Columbus Memorial Chapel at the Chatham-Kent Children's Safety Village.
Chapel opens at safety village
Chatham This Week St-Philippe’s Church in Grande Pointe may be closed, but part of it is still being used at a new non-denominational chapel opened Sept. 11 at the Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village. The Knights of Columbus Memorial Chapel is the result of a three-year project and incorporates fixtures from the former church, including pews, the pulpit, a crucifix and lighting fixtures. Frank Letourneau, who chaired the committee that oversaw the chapel’s construction, said, “What’s a village without a chapel?” He said the chapel, which seats about 25 people, can be used for events including small weddings, baptisms and by people renewing their vows. Equipped with a furnace, Letourneau said, “It’ll be open all year long.” Don Smith, faithful navigator of the Father James Assembly Knights of Columbus, which oversaw the project, said the cost included about $20,000 for construction and $10,000 for the lot.