Historic Tacoma church faces uncertain future
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TACOMA, Wash. -- Many years ago a handful of big, classic churches were built on the same block in downtown Tacoma, but one by one those churches have been picked off by the wrecking ball.
Now there's another church in the crosshairs, and a tiny congregation is facing the immense responsibility of deciding the fate of one of Tacoma's oldest houses of worship.
Phil Blackledge has been coming to First Congregational Church since he was a child. Now he's the guy who has to sell it.
"I am. That's an irony in my life. I never dreamed I would be the person who would eventually sign the paperwork," Blackledge said.
The church has stood in the same spot for 104 years, hosting countless weddings, baptisms and funerals. The asking price is $1.9 million.
"I think this is a fantastic building in a great location," said Michael Armanious.
These days, there just aren't enough people coming to the church.
"When I first started preaching here there were nine people in attendance, including me, my wife, and the organist," said Pastor Bill Greaver.
Pastor Bill has those numbers on the rise, but the congregation is still small.
"There are forty of us in the pews, and there's no way 40 people can support a building this big. So, it's time to sell," Greaver said.
The hope is that another congregation will buy the church, or maybe even propose a swap. The fear is that the new buyer will come wielding a wrecking ball.
There's a hospital next door, and their property is busting at the seams. If they bought the church, demolition would almost surely follow.
Maybe it's just bricks and mortar and memories, but maybe it's more than that. The highest bidder will decide.
"We'll do what we have to do, and if we're not able to sell to another congregation, we'll sell for demolition. But it's not going to be a happy day," Blackledge said.
The congregation hopes to find a new church after the the sale. The heyday for the building was in the 1930s, when the church had more than 700 members.
Now there's another church in the crosshairs, and a tiny congregation is facing the immense responsibility of deciding the fate of one of Tacoma's oldest houses of worship.
Phil Blackledge has been coming to First Congregational Church since he was a child. Now he's the guy who has to sell it.
"I am. That's an irony in my life. I never dreamed I would be the person who would eventually sign the paperwork," Blackledge said.
The church has stood in the same spot for 104 years, hosting countless weddings, baptisms and funerals. The asking price is $1.9 million.
"I think this is a fantastic building in a great location," said Michael Armanious.
These days, there just aren't enough people coming to the church.
"When I first started preaching here there were nine people in attendance, including me, my wife, and the organist," said Pastor Bill Greaver.
Pastor Bill has those numbers on the rise, but the congregation is still small.
"There are forty of us in the pews, and there's no way 40 people can support a building this big. So, it's time to sell," Greaver said.
The hope is that another congregation will buy the church, or maybe even propose a swap. The fear is that the new buyer will come wielding a wrecking ball.
There's a hospital next door, and their property is busting at the seams. If they bought the church, demolition would almost surely follow.
Maybe it's just bricks and mortar and memories, but maybe it's more than that. The highest bidder will decide.
"We'll do what we have to do, and if we're not able to sell to another congregation, we'll sell for demolition. But it's not going to be a happy day," Blackledge said.
The congregation hopes to find a new church after the the sale. The heyday for the building was in the 1930s, when the church had more than 700 members.
