The drive to save London’s fugitive slave chapel has found a big booster in NDP MP Irene Mathyssen.

Mathyssen, the party’s deputy heritage critic, is bringing the Official Opposition’s heritage critic Pierre Nantel to town Friday to see the reminder of the city’s role in the Underground Railroad.

“I am interested in what we can do to help,” Mathyssen said Wednesday. “It’s clear to me we have to preserve this.”

Nantel has a bill before Parliament aimed at providing federal help for threatened heritage structures. It suggests Ottawa use its tax and regulatory tools to help find new uses for decommissioned places of worship.

Mathyssen said she wants Nantel to understand the importance of the 1848-era structure at 275 Thames St. that backers are trying to save and relocate to Grey St. beside Beth Emanuel Church.

About $60,000 has been raised by the Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project and another $60,000 promised by city hall toward the estimated $162,000 move.

“We’re so close,” campaign co-chairperson Joe O’Neil said Wednesday.

Mathyssen was optimistic about finding more help.

Mathyssen said availability of federal funding has been explored and she hopes Nantel’s efforts can help heritage properties like old churches that are falling into disrepair as congregations dwindle.

Aside from the fugitive slave chapel, Nantel and Mathyssen will visit Christ Church, at Wellington and Hill streets, and Fanshawe Pioneer Village.

chip.martin@sunmedia.ca

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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

A network of people in the U.S. that helped runaway slaves find freedom in Canada.

London had a large and wealthy black community that abolitionist John Brown tapped for support before his raid on Harper’s Ferry.

CHAPEL PRESERVATION PROJECT