Surrey, B.C., community aims to rebuild torched Orthodox church

Nearly three years after a devastating fire reduced their church to ashes, members of the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey say they are determined to rebuild.

Dozens of churchgoers came together on Saturday in Fort Langley for a walkathon and car wash fundraiser, hoping to raise funds to construct a new place of worship.

The fire that devastated the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church on 108 Avenue and 139 Streetin the city's Whalley neighbourhood in October 2021 was confirmed to be an act of arson.

The perpetrator, a 35-year-old woman, has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of arson, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.

The fire left the congregation without a permanent home, saysFather Armia Gerges.

"So many things, valuable things, in our church burneddown," he told CBC News. "We had a great loss.

"But we forgive her, and we are praying for her," he said of the arsonist.

According to its website, the Coptic Orthodox church in Surrey, which was established in 1998,brought together a diverse group of Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Iraqi and Lebanese Orthodox believers.

St. George's congregation consistsof around 300 families, according to the church. It has been relying on temporary locations for church services since the blaze.

They currently hold gatherings at an elementary school in Surrey and the Fort Langley Community Church.

But the logistics of moving between venues have made it difficult for the community to stay connected, says Michael Habib, a longtime member of the congregation.

"We're losing people, it's a real struggle to get people to come together in different places with constantly changing schedules," said Habib, who has attended the church since he was three years old.

He calls St. Georgehis"second home."

"Having the church to come to protected me from a lot of things that I could have otherwise been doing."

WATCH | Surrey church seeks to rebuild 3 years after arson:

Fundraiser held for gutted Coptic Orthodox church in Surrey, B.C.

3 days ago

Duration 2:09

Three years after St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey, B.C., was burnt to the ground in an arson attack, dozens of people gathered for a fundraising event in Fort Langley.

The church hasreceived some insurance money following the fire.

But according to Steven Faltas, project manager for the construction of the new church, it's not enough to cover the costs of building the new church.

"We wanted to build ... a bigger church for our growing needs," he said.

Faltas estimates the cost of constructingthe new church will be approximately $34 million.

The congregation plans to build itat 18555 88 Avenue, in Surrey's Port Kells neighbourhood southeast of the church's original location.

Faltas said the community is aiming to raise $5 million through fundraisers, in addition to selling the original church site, so that theycan cover the costs of the new build.

Rezoning approval from Surrey City Council is expected to come through on Monday, which would allow construction to begin in mid-2025, with completion slated for 2027, the project manager added.