Old Rock Hill church could be rebuilt at a winery, official says

ROCK HILL With demolition just weeks away, two plans have been offered to keep the historic Rock Hill Presbyterian Church.

Both plans would need several hundred thousand dollars to carry out, and neither is close raising that kind of money.

But if neither plan succeeds, the church may find new life at a winery in Warren County, city administrator George Liyeos said.

In an interview after an aldermanic meeting Tuesday night, Liyeos said that the construction company that will build a gas station on the site of the church, at McKnight and Manchester roads, would disassemble the church and reconstruct it at the winery.

Robert Brinkmann, chief executive officer of the builder, Brinkmann Constructors, could not be reached for comment, nor could the owners of the winery, Cedar Lake Cellars in Wright City.

A group called Save The Rock Hill Church has been raising money for its plan to save the church by moving it and the adjacent city-owned Fairfax House to Rock Hill Park, just south of Manchester.

The group says the venue would be attractive for brides wanting to have a church wedding and reception at the same site.

The group estimated it would need $700,000 to carry out the plan. Chris Musial, a spokesman for the group, said Tuesday his group had so far raised $4,710 with about $2,000 more in pledges.

Rock Hill Alderman Edward Johnson told fellow aldermen Tuesday night that he had a Plan B if the first effort failed. He suggested moving the church to 215-217 Almentor Avenue, an empty lot the Temple Hall Club owns. The site is south of Manchester and east of Rock Hill road.

Johnson suggested the move late last year, but aldermen supported the first group, which had presented a business plan.

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Old Rock Hill church could be rebuilt at a winery, official says