In a newsletter from last year, we looked at some of the future-forward innovations that houses of worship are trying in order to creatively protect, improve, and serve their congregations. Today we’ll look at more innovation trends, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse projects that are kicking off in 2023.
New Ways of Worship
Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN reflects on the technical and theological changes that came after the pandemic, saying they now believe “we have to let go of the past.” Part of letting go of the past and moving forward into the future, includes houses of worship adapting to new technology. Hybrid worship continues to be a necessary format for congregations in 2023, this article looks at four ways AV technologies, such as high-quality camera technology and inclusive audio, can support long-term hybrid worship.
Houses of worship should also prepare themselves with proper insurance for their properties in this new year. According to PropertyCasualty360, this year there are five major trends related to underwriting that will likely affect houses of worship this year.
Restoration and preservation
Last week, The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced that 35 churches will receive a total of $4 million for preservation work. These churches are the recipients of the first round of its Preserving Black Churches grants, which was created to invest in the physical structure and financial sustainment into the future. Learn more about this fund here.
Similar restoration efforts are underway for the St. Thomas Primitive Baptist Church building in Summit, OK. The building's foundation problems began after earthquakes occurred nearby in 2015 and 2016 and with this renovation they hope to install a new concrete floor structure, replace the ceiling, insulate the interior walls, update the bathroom updates, refinish the pews, repair the roof, install accessibility ramps and sidewalks, and do some minor landscaping. With a GoFundMe goal of $50,000 and a lot of faith, Scott Reno and the Rev. Earl Baker Jr. are hoping to give the congregation a new building this year for their centennial.
Developers continue to get creative utilizing former houses of worship for housing and even recreational activities across the country. In St. Louis, several temples and church buildings have been repurposed into fitness centers, high-end lodging and a skate park. Here in New York, a former Jehovah’s Witness dormitory was bought by the nonprofit developer Breaking Ground and has been renovated into 500 apartments that include supportive housing as well as ordinary rent-regulated housing. Both of these cities have found ways to support the interest and needs of local communities and local economies through repurposing buildings that were underutilized.
Is it possible to cross a line with adaptive reuse of houses of faith? One developer in Lakeland, FL saw a former chapel as the perfect place for a bar and event venue. The proposal was eventually rejected by city commissioners, after receiving an outcry of disapproval for the promotional material which showed bar staff dressed as scantily-clad nuns. According to the report the developer is still determined–“his new vision includes apartment buildings and a retail shop, incorporating the chapel into the design.”
