Church renovation creates opportunity for Provo community

(KUTV) A piece of Provo history faced the possibility of extinction just a few weeks ago, but with some innovative planning by the Provo Community United Church of Christ is about to give it a second chance.

The church will undergo a massive restoration and expansion to keep it running. The church was originally built in 1920 and has fallen into tough economic times in recent years. In January the church had to let go its pastor of five years since they're without a budget to keep paying him.

In the absence of a pastor the congregation came up with a committee to steer its future. David Lewis the music director and organist at the Provo community congregation's church has been a parishioner for less than two years, but didn't want to see the church die. When David heard the doors might close he decided where there was a will, there had to be a way.

Lewis said Monday that the congregation feels very lucky. After months of planning, research and looking for help Provo's mayor pointed the committee in the direction of a developer who might be able to help.

Ryan Freeman of Forge Companies has stepped forward to help keep the sanctuary and build a new future for the church. The iconic A-frame sanctuary on Provo's University Avenue will get a face lift and stay for future generations.

The structure that was built in the 1920's will see some dramatic changes. The land where the older portion of the church sits will be part lobby and classrooms for the church. Above it will sit a new high rise apartment complex that will help create a profit sharing opportunity.

The church will get a portion of the apartment profits to keep the church running while the developer gets the land to build the 57 unit building with high end features. The addition will offer apartments of up to two bedrooms for those wanting to live in the heart of Provo.

Without the deal the church would have closed its doors, which would have been a sad end to what was once a thriving church. Lewis who has done his homework says, "The church was bursting at the seams they just couldn't fit as many as they needed." That was in the early days when three different congregations joined to create one unified church.

The original boxy white structure on University Avenue was built in 1920 thanks to a donation from Meno Troupe, a woman who left her church $30,000 when she passed away. Then 20 years later, as World War II ended and Geneva steel kicked up production the now iconic A- frame sanctuary was built for the growing congregation.

Nearly 100 years later the church has seen many changes, but for those still attending the church is a second home. The soon to be renovated sanctuary will fill a need in the community not just keeping religious diversity and saving history, but providing a gathering place for the community.

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Church renovation creates opportunity for Provo community