Buildings decay and become old-fashioned – this is a challenge facing all churches. Many congregations, regardless their history, are wondering whether to renovate or rebuild. They face many practical considerations; however, the relationship that parishioners have with their buildings is the most important.
“When you think that our approach to worship has shifted, our approach to education has shifted, even our understanding of mission has shifted; and yet, there is a wall – literally – when it comes to our buildings,” said Rev. Lynne Donovan, minister at St. Andrew’s, Picton, Ont. “The bricks and mortar get in the way.”
Donovan’s congregation of about 80 households is getting ready to make a decision about its building. A $70,000 renewal and renovation proposal – made possible thanks to a bequest – is part of St. Andrew’s overall vision of church renewal. Remodelling the sanctuary to reflect that vision is critical to its success. The updated space will support not only the worshipping community, but also the congregation’s vision to connect with the surrounding community, all the while reducing the congregation’s carbon footprint. Adding skylights to let in more natural light, extending the chancel to create a performance space, and replacing the pews with chairs so the space is completely flexible, are among the major elements in the proposal, which the congregation will discuss after Christmas.
If the congregation decides to go ahead with the plans, Donovan – who, although excited and optimistic, realizes that people often have strong emotional ties to their buildings that can hamper change – hopes the work will be completed by next summer.
“Our architecture and pews limit us, so we want those limits gone,” said Donovan. “The sanctuary speaks volumes about who we are and where we’re going.
“I think that paint, light, architecture and pews will be one of the conversations at the heart of whether or not churches go forward or move into oblivion. They’re symbols of the kind of people we’re prepared to be.”
Rev. Dr. Ralph Kendall, the former general manager of the Presbyterian Church Building Corporation, has written a guide on church renovations. He recalls a visit to a church in Montreal. “Outside, the neighbourhood was full of children from the Caribbean. It was an active area, with lots of life. When I went inside, the people I was meeting with said they were having trouble attracting students for the highland dancing classes they were holding.
“You have to find out who is in your congregation. What is your purpose? What programs does the church have that allows it to have the full use of the facility? What the final result will be flows directly from knowing why you’re there. For example, would you build a large gymnasium for young people when there are few families in the congregation or in the surrounding neighbourhood?”
Riverdale, Toronto, for example, saw what was happening to the churches around it, and decided to take on a major renovation by converting the sanctuary into condominiums. The church’s basement became the condo’s parking garage and the former church hall is now the sanctuary.
That incident to Kendall shows that in looking around at the neighbourhood where they live, congregations start “thinking outside the box” that is their physical plant. There’s more to a church than a building.
While the national church has few resources for congregations looking to remodel, the Presbyterian Church Building Corporation – which operates independently from the national church – can provide some guidance. The corporation exists to provide financial assistance to build a new church, or repair or expand an existing one. Loans are guaranteed through a funding arrangement with the Royal Bank of Canada.
Each application must include a land and building appraisal, a land survey, environmental assessment, and financial statements. The application then goes to the corporation’s executive committee for approval.
The corporation also works with the committee on church architecture to assist congregations in navigating through the myriad of architectural details that arise when a construction project is undertaken.
Committee members include architects who are conversant with building codes and the language that planning departments use, and they have experience in building not only churches but other buildings as well. All plans are supposed to come before the committee to receive guidance and advice, and project applications go to the committee for approval.
Architect Walter Moffat, of the firm Black & Moffat in Toronto, is the committee chair. He was the architect on a multimillion-dollar atrium project at St. Paul’s Anglican on Bloor Street, Toronto.
“This church had extensive buildings and property but nothing was connected,” said Moffat. “For example, to get from the sanctuary to the hall for coffee hour, you had to go up and down steps and outside. It was becoming a struggle to attract people to the church and it was because of the building. But now, everything is connected and the church has a future.”
Moffat said there are several things a congregation must consider before beginning a renovation project. First, they must devise a building program that is “flexible, accessible, functional and secure,” as well as welcoming.
“They should have a realistic vision and fit the scope to the budget, but with respect for some ambitious thinking,” continued Moffat, “and hire an architect who designs well; not simply someone who has done lots of church work.”
Ion Grumeza, an American church restoration planner, took his experiences in this field and wrote This Old Church: The Indispensable Guide for Restoring Church Buildings. It’s a small book packing heaps of wisdom on everything from the planning process to hiring contractors to the factors that will make or break any of these projects – the make-up of the building committee, the personalities this type of project will attract, and how to manage them.
Such resources are certainly needed, as when a project isn’t considered realistically before work is begun, things can derail quickly. St. Paul’s, Glace Bay, N.S., first started discussing the future of its building back in 1984. According to the church’s Wikipedia page, “concerns about structural integrity, repair costs, and functionality were raised as the congregation struggled with the choice of trying to correct the problems in the existing structure or move to a new building.” In 1991, they decided to start anew. An architect was hired, and two years later, construction began.
But due to construction problems and financial issues, expenses quickly surpassed the budget and before long, a $1.1-million debt was incurred. The congregation was given permission by General Assembly to canvass the Presbyterian Church for funds, and over a half million dollars was raised. St. Paul’s, in turn, paid $600,000 towards its loan, and in 2005, the debt was paid in full.
Since then however, work has had to be done on the roof due to flawed building plans, and the sanctuary is still incomplete. Despite so many challenges, Rev. Mike Henderson remains optimistic.
“Nothing is impossible with God. The situation here seemed hopeless, but God worked through the congregation, through Presbyterians across the country and through members of our community of all denominations to make the impossible a reality,” he said.
Henderson has learned a valuable lesson through the ordeal – and thinks other churches can learn from it as well. “Don’t lose your identity in the project,” he said. “You are a people of God, together with Christ. This is our identity; not a debt, or a building, or a new bell tower.”
