The future of a Regina church that features stained glass windows created by well-known Saskatchewan artist Wilf Perreault is up in the air.

Canadian Martyrs Church at 1932 1st Ave. N. in the city's north end could be sold and torn down.Parishioners are worried about the future of Canadian Martyrs Church and the giant mural by well-known Saskatchewan artist Wilf Perreault. (Lachlan Madill/CBC)

But inside the 55-year-old church is a huge mural as well as 28 stained glass windows Perreault made and donated to the Roman Catholic church more than three decades ago.

A group of concerned parishioners met this week to talk about how they might save the church and its art.

It's one of several churches in the city that's experienced dwindling parishioner numbers over the years. The Regina archdiocese is concerned about the costs — utilities, taxes, repairs and insurance — of maintaining some of these churches.

Wilf Perreault's daughter Meagan, who has warm memories of attending church at Canadian Martyrs with her family years ago, is among those who want to save Canadian Martyrs.

"It's kind of a hidden gem here," she said. "I want this building to be saved ... I'd be devastated if it was gone."

She recalled her father, up on a ladder, working to get the mural finished in time for a Christmas service in 1980.

He was scared of heights and at one point, he froze, and had to be talked down by Father Reilly, she said.

But the final result was "these huge, amazing masterpieces," she said.

"This is something that he's never done before and will probably never do again," she said.

There are plans for further meetings to decide what to do with the church and the artworks.