OLD CHURCH BUILDINGS SERVE NEW PURPOSE

The people, not the building, make the church.

This belief is popular among people of many religious denominations. They believe the congregation that worships together can meet in any establishment and form a church body. The structure that houses the congregation is viewed as a building that has a religious purpose.

Sometimes, those buildings are abandoned. The reason might be that the congregation outgrew the building and sought another facility to better meet its needs. Or, the congregation may have disbanded due to a disaster or disagreement.

Whatever the reason, the religious facilities often are left standing long after the original church congregation leaves. If they are left vacant for long, the buildings fall into disrepair.

More often, however, the buildings are purchased by other congregations seeking a church home.

That is what has happened time and time again at the church at 1601 S. Sprigg. This facility, first occupied by a Catholic congregation, stood vacant many years before New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church moved its congregation in.

New Bethel eventually outgrew the facility and built a new structure in south Cape Girardeau. The former site is shared by Liberty Pentecostal Church and Rhema Word Breakthrough International Ministries.

"They agreed to share time with us because we left our old location and had absolutely no other choices," said Lisa Lane, a member of the Rhema congregation. "It was a move of faith."

Lane said her church has benefited greatly from the move and from its afternoon service hours. Hopefully, the membership eventually will outgrow its building, just as it has twice in the past, she said. If that happens, the congregation likely will consider an existing building before it considers building a new church.

"It's going to be most likely that we will move into an existing building," said Lane. "When we get ready to move, we hope we can be a blessing to somebody else."

The Rev. Phil Curran of First Christian Church said it does not matter what denomination was affiliated with a building because the facility has a greater purpose. He likes to think about seeing churches being consistently recycled.

"I hope that happens," he said . "I hope that those buildings aren't abandoned or left to stand empty or be destroyed. The building creates a setting that gets us thinking along religious lines."

Curran's congregation moved from its West End Boulevard site after the membership outgrew the facilities. It would not have been economical to expand on the site, and church officials elected to sell the building and construct a larger facility at another site.

"For a long, long time the church had a ministry to the university in the sense that, I understand, many faculty members were members of the church," he said. "Now that we are located on the northwest part of town on Abbey Road, we're in a residential neighborhood, and that changes things quite a bit."

Now, the church has a broader mission to serve the community, Curran said.

That mission was met in part after the church elected to sell its former facility to the owners of Lorberg Funeral Chapel.

"I happen to think it's a great use for the old building," said Curran.

"Obviously, when a person dies there is that spiritual element, and what better setting for a funeral home than a former church building." Lorberg funeral director Betty Kuss agreed.

The site is ideally arranged because it allows the funeral home to provide families with ample parking, private lounges, a children's play room, a full kitchen and several dining rooms, she said. The funeral home also is removed from other businesses and makes great use of the chapels and stained-glass windows the church offered.

"We are told that this is the most beautiful funeral home in Southeast Missouri," said Kuss. "There is a reverential charm about this building, and we are able to offer our families so much more."

PUTTING ABANDONED CHURCHES TO WORK

Following is a sampling of church facilities that have been abandoned for various reasons.

1601 S. Sprigg

The former Holy Family Catholic Church. The church was closed by the diocese. Later occupied by New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church for many years. The congregation built a new church in south Cape. Now occupied by Rhema Word Breakthrough International Ministries.

1202 S. Sprigg

House of Hope -- an outreach of the First Assembly of God Church. Congregation moving to old May Greene School and plans to sell old church.

1010-12 S. Ellis

House of Faith Fellowship Church of God In Christ. Church is burned out and congregation disbanded.

829 N. West End Boulevard

The former First Christian Church. Congregation built new building. Church now occupied by Lorgerg Funeral Chapel.

200 block Broadway

Vacant church most recently occupied by Rhema Word Breakthrough International Ministries and others. Now being converted into an antique shop.