While the RCMP investigate fires at four churches in the Merritt area, the community is still coming to terms with the loss of the historic Murray Church.

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

Trinity United Church Chair Linda Baird says they’d recently done some renovations to the building

“It had been repainted, and all the windows had been re-puttied, and the stained glass windows replaced and [we] had a large granite plaque put out the front with the names of all the unmarked graves,” she said.

“We know that people were buried there, but we didn’t know where.”

As for rebuilding, Baird says they’re not sure what their next steps will be.

“Right now we’re at the stage where we don’t know what we’re doing,” she added. “Friday I was in shock, Saturday I was sad, and by yesterday I was angry.”

“When we were doing all the work and starting to use the church again for special occasions, the whole community of Upper Nicola and even Merritt participated in things that were going on out there.”

While the Church wasn’t used regularly, Baird notes they’ve had Christmas and Easter services there in recent years, as well as other community events.