'Angel in disguise': Truro Conservation Trust wants to buy church. Here's what to know.

Godsend. Benediction. Blessing. Gift from on high. Boon. Manna from heaven.

Whatever one calls it, a proposed gift from the Truro Conservation Trust may lighten the hearts of the congregation that has worshipped at the Chapel on the Pond since 2017 and faces an uncertain future.

The trust's board has voted unanimously to pursue buying the small gray-shingled church at 17 Pond Road. An anonymous donor from a family foundation has stepped forward to donate $500,000 and committed to matching another half million, said trust chairman Fred Gaechter. That would get the trust to $1.5 million, which they believe could be close to the asking price, he said.

"That was an angel in disguise somewhere there," said Pastor David Brown of the unnamed donor. "I am so elated, so excited, to know that the heart of people can open up like that and contribute to this cause in such a generous way."

In January, the church was told it would have to find another place to worship by the end of March. Brown, who has led services there since 2017, first learned about the closing from a notice written by property owners Bob and Kathy Valleau, who said they were exploring repurposing the space.

Helping the Jamaican congregation

"We wanted to keep the historic value of the building and not only the physical building itself but the use for which it was intended," said Gaechter. "We would like to help the Jamaican congregation to have a home. It's multiple aspects, it's a whole picture."

The trust is also working through its nonprofit with a campaign to raise money for the church.

As of Wednesday, donations collected by the trust stood at about $21,000, said Gaechter. An online GoFundMe set up by the church has $31,010, as of Thursday.

The Truro Conservation Trust also owns a parcel adjacent to the church.

Building owners considering the future

The Valleaus are founders of Boathouse Ministries, which exists to "serve, to encourage others to seek God, to build up, to foster community, and to love," according to the website. Their extensive travels aboard their yacht Vesper take them "into fellowship with believers in Jesus Christ all over the world."

"As owners of the Chapel we are entering our 80s this year and have been considering future plans for the property. For this reason we are sad to announce our decision to close the Chapel On the Pond in January 2024 and begin the process of prayerfully repurposing 17 Pond Road," reads the statement announcing the move.

The couple could not be reached for comment on the trust's action.

The Valleaus bought the chapel for $385,000 from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River in January 2009, according to records with the Barnstable Registry of Deeds. The former Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was built in 1915 but closed in September 2007.

The property's total assessed value is $611,800, according to the Truro assessor's office.

Owners said they intend to sell, pastor says

Brown said the building owners have said they plan to put the property on the market on April 1 and said the church must vacate the premises on that date. He said he would now focus on building his new ministry Emmanuel Faith Ministries.

One condition on the donation from the unnamed donor is the property must be acquired by the trust and the donations will be made through the trust, said Gaechter.

Gaechter said Truro Conservation Trust will not dip into any of its trust funds to buy the church because such a purpose is not part of their donors' intention.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Jamaican congregation could narrowly avoid eviction from Truro church