posted
The church across the street from our church is being demolished. They started the wrecking ball stuff today on the out-buildings. The sanctuary will be left for last, I guess.
There's no real sad story here. The congregation merged with another church downtown and they are selling both buildings and starting in a new location. I suppose the sad part is really the move away from a central downtown location, but in a way it's a growth opportunity for them and this building is beyond salvage from what I've heard.
The thing is, it's still kind of depressing. That building was sacred space and it served several generations of people. It's a nice looking little brick building. And it is being torn down.
For our church, there's good news in that we have to grow and we were able to purchase the property at a reasonable cost. At the very least, we'll have adequate parking for years to come. And maybe we'll build. Who knows really.
But still, watching the demolition from my window (I'm upstairs and I can see the wrecking ball swing and drop) is just sad. If nothing else, I wish there'd been some way to make use of the old section of the building.
It's full of mold, however, and just not worth the money it would take to make it usable.
posted
KoM, would you deny that some people find comfort and joy within the community of faithful? To them, a church is more than a building. And even if they are moving to a new place, their old sanctuary, the attached meeting rooms and spaces can have a special meaning for them.
Even if you personally think it's all a pack of lies, it just seems churlish of you to be so dismissive.
I'm not sure what your purpose was in posting that, but it really came off as an attempt at destruction for no good reason than to hurt another human being.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Yeah, even though I don't share the same beliefs I would be sad to see a mosque or a temple destroyed. It's a place where generations of people came together in (we can hope) harmony, a place where joyous events like weddings and christenings took place, I think it's deserving of a little bit of respect.
And like Bob has said and Will B echoed - seeing a beautiful old building knocked down is sad, regardless of what it was used for.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:KoM, would you deny that some people find comfort and joy within the community of faithful?
Prediction: He won't deny it, but he'll say those people are stupid, and he'll sneer at them.
Really, why does anyone pay any attention to anything he says about religion anymore? We already know where it's going to lead.
Posts: 1814 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
It's always worse to me when they knock down a really old, really big tree. It always feels like something's missing afterwards.
Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Comfort and joy are fine things, but there is also such a thing as truth and justice. Plenty of people find comfort and joy in drugs; I doubt anyone would complain if a crack den in your neighbourhood was knocked down.
That said, I do not advocate the destruction of all churches; after all, there are plenty of good uses one can put a fine old building to.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Comfort and joy are fine things, but there is also such a thing as truth and justice. Plenty of people find comfort and joy in drugs; I doubt anyone would complain if a crack den in your neighbourhood was knocked down.
That said, I do not advocate the destruction of all churches; after all, there are plenty of good uses one can put a fine old building to.
posted
That's what I like about you, Boris, you've always got such a constructive and helpful way of vocalising your disagreements. Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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You all realize that the snide replies to KoM do nothing to help the community and, in fact, add to the unmaking (or whatever you'd like to call it), right?
Posts: 1658 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Why is everyone beating on KoM? I'm the one who made a inappriopiat joke on purpose...
Me though I'm a traditionalist, I'm horrified by New York "Modern" buildings that are just cheap slabs of conret and glass. Whatever happened to the good old days?
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Why do we even talk to him, that's what I don't understand. Either he'll become more comprehensive by contagion and it's no use to lecture him, or he'll stay what he is.
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
The bell tower came down today. It's weird how they are chipping away at the building. The newest addition, then the 3-story classroom space, then today the bell tower. All that's left is the sanctuary itself.
It really does take almost no time at all to knock a building down. The bell tower was brick, 4 stories tall. It came down in less than a half hour.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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The Church is not a building, The Church is not a steeple, The Church is not a resting place, The Church is a people.
Posts: 7085 | Registered: Apr 2001
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But still...the concept of sacred space does have meaning to folks who attended there, etc.
In a way, the church building is a marker and having it gone is sort of like having a missing tooth. It's not like you can't still chew, but everything feels different.
If nothing else, it's a sign of further change in the character of this neighborhood.
Just like all the houses getting carved up into apartments, and the number of vacant storefronts.
It's all sign of change. Some of it is good, some bad, and some neutral.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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We saw the plans for the new parking lot at the Administrative Council meeting tonight. We're all very sad for the Presbyterians whose building is being torn down.
But pretty darn happy about the 100 new parking spaces. Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Juxtapose: It's always worse to me when they knock down a really old, really big tree. It always feels like something's missing afterwards.
Yeah, I definitely agree with that. Giant old trees are so mesmerizing to ponder upon.
Posts: 879 | Registered: Apr 2005
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All the Vacation Bible Schools there, the souls saved and the potluck dinners shared, the solace for those in need, the friendships and community built within. A part of them gets knocked down with the building, but an even larger part lives on, carried in the hearts of those who attended.
But it's still a somber swing of the wrecking ball.
Posts: 2848 | Registered: Feb 2003
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It's still sad to see them come down... I remember when the Catholic church in Ft. Wayne was struck by lightning, and caught fire... that building was just... awe inspiring. And I still miss the hourly bells, even after 10 years.
Posts: 880 | Registered: Nov 2005
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The Baptist church I grew up in grew substantially during the 70's and 80's and had to build a bigger sanctuary. At the time, I don't think anyone even thought about tearing down the original sanctuary. Years later, when a new pastor and his staff were there, they discussed razing it for a new education building. I was gone by then, but I understand that several of the older members as well as some of the other townsfolk were able to get the old sanctuary declard a historic landmark.
My sister was the last one to get married there.
Posts: 221 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Enjoy your new parking spaces. Don't worry about the Presbyterians. They'll be fine, they know it was all predestined to happen like this. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Sanctuary is down. It took 2 days, but mostly because they only have one or two trucks hauling the massive debris away.
It was interesting how they did it. They collapsed about 1/3 of the roof right behind the facade, then banged the facade backwards into the interior.
Now they just have the pieces left that are attached to the neighboring building. I think that should be interesting how they take down the church but leave the little storage building alone.
Someone asked me what was going to happen to the "ghost" that used to haunt the balcony section.
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