From here:

The Cowichan Station community is fighting back against a decision to close its historic St. Andrew’s Church.

The Anglican Diocese of B.C. voted in favour of disestablishing the more than 100-year-old church over the weekend, with plans to sell or lease the picturesque property.

Parishioners have been encouraged to join one of the remaining Anglican churches in the valley — but Cowichan Station isn’t giving up on St. Andrew’s just yet.

“Although the Anglican church may hold the deed to St. Andrew’s, we in the community have a strong sense of ownership as well,” wrote Sue Wells, chair of the Cowichan Station Area Association, in a March 3 letter to the Anglican Diocese.

“The church and former parsonage were built and paid for by our local community,” added Wells of the church that has since been maintained in part through community support.

Wells declined to comment on what she called a “sensitive” matter Tuesday, but spoke at length in support of St. Andrew’s presence in Cowichan Station in her letter to the diocese.

“We feel that we share St. Andrew’s — the heart of Cowichan Station — with the Anglican church,” she said.

“(The CSAA) is concerned (St. Andrew’s) closure would have far reaching implications for groups that come under its umbrella in the community,” wrote Wells of organizations like the Girl Guides, Alcoholics Anonymous, Your Third Place, GIFTS, Drums of Joy, Healthiest Babies, Pocket Market and more.

“We understand (the church) is in arrears on making payments to the diocese but as its model of community engagement has gained momentum over the past year, it has in fact accelerated its payments,” Wells added. “When it gets caught up on the portion for which it was in arrears — presumably sometime this year — it will in fact have a healthy financial statement.”

St. Andrew’s rector, Rev. Dawn Braithwaite, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but Dale Huston, archdeacon for the Cowichan region, said it’s wait-and-see to find out what happens next in Cowichan Station.

“How that will shake down, at this point, is unknown,” he said. “If the community of Cowichan Station is assembling its resources, hopefully they will be making some kind of presentation to the bishop’s office.”

It appears likely this meeting will take place, with Wells and the rest of the CSAA planning to prove their case to continue “the church as vibrant place of worship and the vital heart of our community.”