CHARLOTTETOWN, PE-To characterize the circumstances of Charlottetown's Salvation Army church as daunting is an understatement. It has been six months since the congregation was forced to evacuate the building housing the church and daycare due to toxic mould, and there is still no solution in sight.

Although there have always been moisture problems in the 38-year-old building, the church's pastor, Captain Bram Sacrey, says the mould problem is a recent one.

“The mould was discovered two months before we closed," says Sacrey. They tried conventional removal methods but, when the mould returned, they “called in the professionals."

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Charlottetown for 120 years, but with the building unusable, church programs have been thrown into a turmoil.

Although the congregation of about 100 people began meeting in a downtown hotel in December 2003, with summer approaching they were told they had to leave because the hotel needs the rooms for tourists.

Worship services are now being held on the outskirts of the city above a music store, a situation unsuitable for many in the congregation, as some of the low-income members from the downtown area have no transportation.

Some congregants suffer from health problems and find the stairs leading to the new location inaccessible.

“We've been meeting upstairs since the last week in April," says Catherine Carr, long-time member of The Salvation Army. “My husband is an amputee with heart problems. There are many steps. It is a tremendous obstacle. He climbs a couple of steps, and then has to stop and rest before climbing a couple more. Others with heart or leg problems are not attending."

Meanwhile the church's Small Blessings Daycare was closed indefinitely, resulting in 13 staff layoffs and forcing parents of 43 children to find other means of caring for their children.

The church's mid-week program for children and band meet in other churches. Choir was cancelled indefinitely. Smaller Bible studies and prayer meetings meet in homes. The office has been relocated to the Sacreys' home while new accommodations are being sought. Every ministry was forced to scale down.

Although a final decision has not been made whether to renovate the original building or to purchase new downtown property and build, finances are proving to be prohibitive-some sources estimate the costs for either option to be close to $1 million.

“The financial solution is beyond the means of our small congregation," says Sacrey. “We will have to seek financial resources outside our own means."