MADISON, Wis. — The St. John’s Lutheran Church congregation held their final service in the more than 100-year-old building they call home Sunday before the church is demolished and replaced with 110 units of affordable housing.
“I’ve been a member for 50 years, for a long time,” said church member Winnie Severson. “It’s our church home. We have fond memories here. It will be hard to not be here anymore, but we have to look to the future.”
The $46.5 million dollar project will tear down the old church and build a 10-story building in its place, an upgrade Severson says was needed.
“Our church building was beloved, and it’s got a beautiful sanctuary, but it’s got a leaky roof, and it’s got plaster falling down on the walls outside so it’s in need of significant repair,” Severson said. “It’s not very efficient. We got stairways going nowhere, because of all the, you know, additions and stuff. So it’s the right thing to do.”
Lead pastor Peter Beeson says the change will be hard, but he’s glad to continue St. John’s long history of service to the community by adding affordable housing to an area with increasing luxury developments.
For more than 35 years, St. John’s partnered with Porchlight Inc. to open their doors as an overnight men’s shelter. The church has also hosted meetings of the Off the Square Club, a daytime support group for people struggling with mental illness.
“Here at St. John’s, there is a strong, long-time emphasis on serving the working poor, on serving the needs of our neighbors, on meeting people where they are, and we have this opportunity to use our building our real estate for that goal,” Beeson said.
The church will take over the first floor of the building, leaving space for non-profit and community events as well.
“We want this space to be used six and seven days a week, not just for an hour on Sunday morning,” Beeson said.
Beeson says he’s hoping to salvage parts of the old church like woodwork and some of the stained glass windows. But while it’s sad to lose the historic building, he says the heart of the church isn’t going anywhere.
“While this building certainly has a lot of emotional significance, at the end of the day, it’s us as the people that really are the most important part.”
The church has raised more than $40 million to fund the project, but rising construction costs mean they still need another $3 million to make the building a reality.
You can donate to support the cause at stjohnsmadison.org/more.