Former churches with better missions

Peter Kroopnick sent us this photo of the former Sacred Heart Church in Prescott, Ariz. The building, which was added to the National Registry of Historic Buildings on Dec. 14, 1970, now houses the Prescott Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre & Art Gallery complex. In 1889, Father Quetu came to Prescott to take over the Sacred Heart Parish and build the Sacred Heart Church. Construction began in 1891 and was completed in 1894. The first service was held in 1895. During the late 1960s, the church was also used to present plays. In 1967, the church was purchased by Norma Hazeltine, who then donated it for use as a full-time performing arts facility.

Member Rik Smith of Washington sent us this photo of a former Lutheran church, built in 1923, in Ellensburg, Wash., which is now the Yellow Church Cafe. “It is one of the best restaurants in central Washington,” Smith writes. “It’s always worth stopping for a meal when traveling across the state, no matter the time of day.”

Lifetime Member Richard Keene sent us this photo from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., just south of Jacksonville. Keene writes: “This building was the short-lived home of the former Cornerstone Baptist Church until 2011, when it was bought and converted by St. John’s County into a modern performing arts and multipurpose facility (the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall), hosting rock, country and other musical concerts, plays and events.”

Jules Rensch sent us this photo from Bellevue, Ohio, where the Bismark Senior and Community Center now occupies the building that originally housed St. Sebastian Church’s school.

Kathy McDonald sent us this photo of her standing in front of Moose Scoops Ice Cream in Warren, N.H. The building used to be St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church. “He is the patron saint of parish priests,” Kathy writes. “You can see the stained glass window where the entrance used to be. My husband and I vacation near Warren, and I used to take my mother to Mass here when she was alive. This is much nicer!”

Jeffrey Duplessis sent us this photo from Springdale, Utah. It shows a former Mormon church that was turned into an intimate eatery (Zion Pizza & Noodle Co.) with unique slate-stone-cooked pizzas and year-round beer garden.

Richard Keene also sent us this photo from Neptune Beach, Fla. He writes; “Built in 1887 as St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, and later used from 1970 to 2012 by the Neptune Beach Central Christian (Evangelical) Church, the Beaches Chapel is now part of the Jacksonville Beaches Area Historical Park and used for concerts (rock, jazz, country, classical), lectures and events (weddings and funerals).”

Len and Karen Eisenberg sent us a photo of this former Catholic church in Ashland, Ore. “This old Catholic Church, built in 1889, last functioned as the Family Life Bible Church, a part of the Pentecostal Church of God, before it was sold and converted into a private residence in 2013,” write the Eisenbergs. “We toured the place when it was for sale, and it was in dire need of repair, especially the residence behind the church. It is now a beautiful private residence. The old house, and the land of the parking lot have been developed into four small additional housing units.”

Former churches with better missions

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