CORNWALL, Ontario – Following yesterday’s upset at the removal of a Sixth Street Cairn, the congregation of St. John’s Presbyterian Church issued a statement underlining the factors leading to their decision.
“In the interest of transparency for the lack of notice to the public and any concern/understanding that may have resulted from the removal of the cairn, we most humbly apologize,” reads the release.
In 2016 the church decided that the monument had to be removed due to the poor condition of the structure, and the fact that children continued climbing and playing on it.
“The past winter has been particularly hard on the cairn. Action was required to ensure the safety of the public using the park to ensure children and youth are not jeopardizing their personal safety because of crumbling walls and stone despite the wrought iron fence,” reads the statement.
According to the release, there has been major deterioration of the cement holding the headstones in place, causing many of the headstones to crack beyond repair.
Despite a major restoration effort which took place in the 1987, the structure has continued to deteriorate.
“The general condition of the cairn was inappropriate for the proper respect for our ancestors,” a statement reads. “Consistent with the Cemeteries Act of Ontario we followed our course of action on Monday recognized this obligation.”
The congregation agreed to a multiyear plan to minimize liability and to determine how to properly mark the significance of this property in Cornwall’s history.
Several headstones were salvaged, but the next step will be forming a committee to determine how best to memorialize those still buried onsite. There is no intention to sell the land or erect a building. Once the congregation has agreed and sufficient funds raised, a replacement marker will be installed.
