Community members in Merritt are hoping to raise $200,000 to rebuild the Murray United Church.

They’ll be forming committees over the next week or so, to see how best to move the project forward.

Trinity United Church Spokesperson Jack Polmans says the project will unite the Merritt community.

“The local church has no funds to chip in so it has to come from the community,” he said. “There was, of course, no insurance on the building, the only insurance we could get is clean up insurance.”

“As a matter of fact, the cement is still in excellent condition because that was replaced about 50 years ago, so we can build it right on the same foundation.”

Polmans adds that while the church was completely destroyed by fire last month, the silver lining is they’ll be able to make some improvements when they do rebuild.

“Draftsmen have offered to look at the pictures, get the measurements and start making blueprints,” he added. “When you drive by, you shouldn’t notice a difference, but we’ll make sure there’s insulation in the building this time and we will need a new church bell because the bell is totally destroyed as far as ever ringing again.”

“I suppose we’ll put in electricity in as well, but that would be the only difference.”

The plan is to get going as soon as they raise the money, with Polmans expecting the whole build to take about two years or less.

Built in 1876, it was the oldest building in the Nicola Valley.

A 37-year-old Merritt man is facing four counts of arson.