April 22nd, 2025

Waters Mennonite Church - the little church that could

Waters Mennonite Church started worshipping in their flat-roof-covered church basement in the 1950s. Later, they erected a church building on the basement foundation.

Now, over 65 years later, they’re approaching completion of upgrades that will soon include an air-to-air heat pump, replacing a gas-fired furnace.

Helping them fund the $16,000 estimated cost of the project is a $3,000 Emissions Reduction Grant from MC Canada.

The congregation in Lively, Ontario – just outside Sudbury – has already upgraded insulation in the roof and basement walls. Trustee Art Bast said the logical next step in their emissions reduction plan is to replace two 20-year-old gas furnaces.

Caring for creation has been a life-long journey for Bast. His father studied connections between spirituality and the environment.

“Back in the sixties, my parents had these concerns long before it was on anybody else’s radar,” said Bast. “My Mom was using bio-degradable laundry detergent in the sixties.”

The heat pump will replace two gas furnaces. The church is planning to install the heat pump once the weather warms up in spring.

Image: Google Street View of Waters Mennonite Church in Lively, Ontario.