In October 1999, the church suffered an oil spill. Even with much volunteer labour from men in the community and donated trucking of contaminated soil, there was considerable expense with environmental and petroleum service experts involved. The church appealed to the insurance company and held many meetings with adjusters, but no insurance money was forthcoming. Also at this time, due to the ambiguity of two old deeds, it was necessary to have the property surveyed and a new deed prepared. The A.U.C.W. initiated fund-raisers and, combined with the generous donations of community members and former residents, the church was able to pay off these expenses.
A new Communion Table was presented in 2000 in memory of Edna Harvie. She had passed away in September 1999 after many years of service in the church.
The outside of the church was painted in 2002, and more patching was done to the back wall. The condition of the back wall remained a matter of concern: proper repair was estimated to cost between $12,000 and $20,000.
An electric organ was donated to the church in 2004 and, due to lack of space, the old pump organ was sold.
Hurricane Juan, in September 2003, resulted in no more than a week-long power outage. However, when "White Juan" struck in October 2004, a stained glass window was blown in. The trustees arranged to have all of the windows covered with plexiglass, since they were all in poor condition.
During this time, members were wondering how much longer they could keep pouring money into 'band-aid solutions' for an old building in need of extensive-and expensive-rebuilding. Matters came to a head in November 2006, after a Fire Inspector's report required $3,300 worth in work to bring the building up to fire code standards. This work would contribute nothing to the building's structural needs.
At a joint meeting of both congregations, with representation from Truro Presbytery, it was decided to close the building effective August 12, 2007. Members of the Anglican parish would simply attend worship in one of the other parish churches. Members of the United Church congregation elected to amalgamate with the proposed new Rawdon Hills United Church.
After much prayer and consultation, the Rawdon Gold Mines worshippers came to the final service of deconsecration of this lovely, 99-year-old building, which has served its people and families so well.
We remember the words of the hymn:
The church is not a building,
the church is not a steeple;
the church is not a resting place,
the church is its people!
