Churches being torn down.

[OhMari]

I live in a rural community, and within 20 miles of where I live, I know of 7 churches that are being torn down.

3 churches merged in a rural area and they are tearing down the 3 and making a large church complex out in the middle of a cornfield, so all 3 of the communities have equal distances to drive.

A larger city merged 8 parishes and they are tearing down 3 parishes, selling 2, keeping 3 open and building a large complex out in the country too.

I just can't believe all these old churches are being torn down.

When I was in Italy, I walked into 500 year old churches. Sure they had scaffolding up and where working on them, but they don't tear them down.

I just don't understand the logic of tearing down old churches.

 

[Rajah]

If the old church has something spectacular about it, I totally agree. I love visiting the old churches in Europe.

 

[chrissyk]

Are they Catholic churches? A lot of Catholic parishes are being shut down and the property sold here (New England). It is my understanding that they are selling it off to pay for the child abuse lawsuits. Having been raised Catholic in the Archdiocese of Boston, I find a lot of comfort in seeing these parishes closed down and sold off to be torn down or reappropriated. It's part of the healing process IMHO. People who are abused can move on now that they see that the church is paying for the coverup. Maybe this is part of the reason that churches around you are being torn down too?

 

[OhMari]

Originally posted by chrissyk
Are they Catholic churches? A lot of Catholic parishes are being shut down and the property sold here (New England). It is my understanding that they are selling it off to pay for the child abuse lawsuits. Having been raised Catholic in the Archdiocese of Boston, I find a lot of comfort in seeing these parishes closed down and sold off to be torn down or reappropriated. It's part of the healing process IMHO. People who are abused can move on now that they see that the church is paying for the coverup. Maybe this is part of the reason that churches around you are being torn down too?

You may be right chrissyk, I don't really know why, I just know that they are being torn down. The one's being torn down, probably seat 100-120 people, they are more like your country church, not your large one's you see in cities.

I know of one church that got sold, it was next to a river and they said it is falling in the river. I drive by it and it hasn't happened it.

 

[froglady]

There are also some congregations that would prefer to tear the church down, rather than deconsecrating it. For some, it's still a church, and they don't want to see it renovated into a business or home.