c. 2006 Religion News Service
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. _ In a West Hatfield church, hungry diners eat barbecued ribs and pulled pork daily where families once attended Lutheran baptisms, weddings and Sunday services.
In Holyoke, the place of worship for hundreds of Methodist-Episcopalians and later Christian Scientists now serves as a large residence for a family.
In Pittsfield, a Catholic church built by devout French Canadians more than 100 years ago will soon contain studios for aspiring artists. The church’s basement now serves as a workplace for light manufacturing workers.
Although secular use of church buildings is not new, more possibilities have arisen here because of moves by Catholic officials to close some churches, and the likelihood of more closings in the future as the diocese downsizes.
“It seems sacrilegious to talk about churches in terms of markets and the prices they bring. Money is secular. Churches, temples, synagogues and mosques are holy,” said Eric J. Reenstierna, a real estate appraiser in Cambridge.
But everything has a value, says Reenstierna, who has appraised churches that have eventually been used for youth recreation, senior centers and condominiums.
The value of these usually majestic buildings is often difficult to determine because church buildings have qualities that are unlike any other structures in the neighborhood.
“A lot of times it comes down to either taking advantage of a good location or what is planned for reuse of the church,” said John H. Shuman, head of financial affairs for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.
A Great Barrington couple bought Notre Dame Church and its rectory in Pittsfield for $400,000 last April and plans to convert the church into an organic cafe and art studios. They have already turned the basement into a manufacturing facility for their business of converting recycled fabrics into designer sweaters, blankets, pillows and dolls.
New owner Crispina ffrench said the cost of the church doesn’t come close to its replacement value, which she estimates at $3.9 million. “Actually, that figure is probably low. I don’t think there is any way to replace it,” ffrench said.
She cited the craftsmanship of church builders using handtools to create the stone edifice that opened in 1895. “The wainscoting was made by hand, not bought in sheets at Home Depot,” she said.
As with all sales of Catholic church buildings, the Springfield diocese sold Notre Dame with a provision in the deed that it not be used in any way inconsistent with the teachings of the church and subject to the review of the sitting bishop.
“Someone was thinking about using it as a restaurant. Our concern was what happens if the business fails and the building falls into the hands of someone else,” said Shuman, recalling a controversy in New York City when an Episcopal church became The Limelight nightclub.
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Ffrench’s 15-person company will soon move into Notre Dame’s basement. The rectory will be converted into five condominiums.
The church’s nave will have a loft area added to it. It will feature artisans’ studios and a common area for artists to display their works. It will look out over the 37-foot-high sanctuary area and its ornate mural art and religious stained glass windows.
“We want to keep the beautiful religious iconry. We would like to have plaques made for under the windows, describing what saints are depicted and why,” ffrench said.
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Usually, when the Catholic Church sells a church building, it removes all religious artifacts and iconry and stained glass windows. Because of the artistic nature of ffrench’s plans, the diocese decided to lease the windows to her for $1 a year.
“If someone else moves into the church someday, then we may want to remove the windows if the building is to be used in a different manner,” Shuman said.
The owners of a barbecue rib house, Holy Smokes of West Hatfield, have also generally heard positive comments for saving a former Lutheran church by converting it into a restaurant.
“However, there was one woman who came into the restaurant. She belonged to the congregation. She came in, looked around, and said, `I can’t do this,’ and walked out. I understood. This was her place of worship,” said Leslie J. Ekus, one of Holy Smokes’ owners.
Most former congregants who visit the restaurant express an appreciation that the building is being used and saved from demolition.
“People come in on special occasions and tell us they were married here and they are celebrating their anniversary,” said Ekus.
The stained glass windows of the church are still in place and restaurant patrons sit in the original church pews while dining.
“Some patrons still think it is a church,” said Ekus, who opened the 48-seat restaurant two years ago. Church leaders deconsecrated the 1889 building before it was sold in 2003.
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In 1982, when Ronald J. Capen bought a Holyoke church building that was first used by Methodist-Episcopalians and then Christian Scientists, he had to have a clause restricting use to religious purposes removed from the deed so that he could convert it into a home.
Capen transformed the circa 1886 church into a home of 4,800 square feet, which was about three times the size of the average U.S. home at the time. After living in it for 22 years with his wife and daughter, he sold it two years ago.
“It was big and it was old, so it required a lot of work. I decided a newer, smaller home would be a better fit for my current lifestyle,” said Capen, 63, who was in his 30s when he started the church project.
Capen said it was not unusual for a stranger to knock on his door and ask to view his home.
“People were amazed at what was done to it,” Capen said.
(Bill Zajac writes for The Republican in Springfield, Mass.)
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Editors: To obtain a photo of the Holy Smoke restaurant, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.
ffrench in 10th graf and following is CQ.
