Rev. Carl Fraser, Linda Chapman from St. Thomas Anglican Church speak with Mayor Mike Savage and Councillor Steve Streatch before the cheque presentation. (Healey photo)

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FALL RIVER: The big green sign at St. Thomas Anglican Church is getting a makeover.

As a result of funding support from HRM, presented to them by Mayor Mike Savage and Councillor Steve Streatch during a visit on Aug. 31, a new electronic sign will replace the sign that requires it to be changed manually.

Rev. Carl Fraser spoke about how the new sign will help the volunteers at the church be able to keep the community more well informed of not only events at the church, but in and throughout the community.

“It now means we have the capacity to support the community more in terms of not just promoting our own stuff, but the activities and volunteering of other groups in the community,” said Rev. Fraser. “Our church is not just in the community; we want to be a greater part of the community.

“Being able to support them is really a key part of that as we move into the future.”

The members on hand at St. Thomas Anglican Church accept the cheque in this photo that is done as best as possible with social distancing in mind. (Healey photo)

The church has been undertaking a Strategic Review of the future of the church, especially in a post-COVID19 world, and they have identified the sign’s importance as one of their priorities.

“Obviously, it will be used, in part, for promoting activities in the Church, but we envision it in use as a community resource as well,” said Church Warden Linda Chapman.

Rev. Fraser said the electronic sign will be much simpler to work with and less time consuming for their volunteers. He said the sign was being installed this week, and it is hoped they can have the approval for it to be a sign that changes.

“It will be so much faster, and more options in terms of how we do things,” he said. “It provides us with a bigger canvas to have more impact in the community.”

One of the advantages of the electronic sign is the frequency it can be changed, said Chapman.

“We feel that the provision of this sign will go a long way towards promoting a better-informed community, as well as reaching out ourselves into our community, one of our stated aims and intentions,” she said.