Anonymous Individual Offers to Buy Sacred Heart Church as Senior Center

Attorney Robert Collins advised Selectmen Monday night that there is an anonymous individual who has offered to buy the whole of the Sacred Heart Church property on Main St., including the historic building designed by noted architect Henry Vaughn. It is the buyer's intention, Collins said, to renovate the church building into a Senior Center and to give it to the town. Collins said that the property would fall under municipal-use zoning, and office space could be provided for the Council on Aging, and possibly Commissioners of Trust Funds.

Selectman Josh Degen asked if the Council on Aging had been approached with the offer, and Collins replied, "Not yet."

Selectman Fran Dillon said he appreciated the offer that is being made, but asked about the previous commitment made to Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, which is moving their entire undergraduate college to Groton and was fully expecting that the church would be moved to their site on Old Ayer Rd. Collins said he spoke to college President William Fahey to advise him of the potential sale and said that there may be portions of the church that could be moved to the college site, including the pews, steeple and possibly other items. Collins said that President Fahey was disappointed that the college would not be able to secure the whole building.

Degen said that he felt that the building should stay intact, and that the steeple not be separated from the building.

Collins' reason for appearing at the Board's meeting was to ask the Selectmen if would they accept a Senior Center for the town and the Board indicated that they would welcome the gift.