Church tower is echo of an old landmark

Standing at the corner of Millard Avenue and 133rd Street for nearly 80 years, the bell tower of St. Paul Lutheran Church served as a landmark in its Millard neighborhood — until last September, when it was reduced to rubble.

But that's not the end of the story. A new tower has taken its place. It's not a true bell tower — it won't have a bell — but it is a replica of the original, incorporated into a new church structure built on the corner.

In 2007, St. Paul members decided the time was right to tear down the former church sanctuary, including the bell tower, and build a new fellowship hall in its place. The old sanctuary had been used as a fellowship hall since 1988, when a new sanctuary was built to create a larger church complex.

After an extensive study, the choice was to either put a large sum of money into fixing the nearly 80-year-old building's problem areas or invest in something new, said Lori Graham, church accountant.

“It was a tough decision for the congregation,” Graham said. “We still have families that were part of the build in 1929. They remember being little kids carrying bricks to their dads (as they built the foundation). They remember being confirmed and married here, their own kids being confirmed. There are a lot of memories in it.”

In the end, the congregation decided to tear down the old and start new. Built in place of the old sanctuary is a 28,252-square-foot facility with a chapel, classrooms, two nurseries, a family life center — complete with basketball court — kitchen facilities and even a coffee cafe.

Sections of the old building's facade and stained glass were incorporated into the new facility as a way to preserve the past. And the bell tower shape was made part of the design to acknowledge the old icon.

No decision has been made on what to do with the actual bell, circa 1895, from the old tower. A church official said perhaps there could be another bell tower one day, or maybe the bell will just be displayed somewhere in the new building.

The new structure is about 9,000 square feet larger than what it replaced. The added space will allow the church to host much larger activities and to offer more space for youth programs, which have expanded in recent years.

The new building also will allow for partnerships for events with other churches and community groups, which St. Paul officials hope will help the congregation open its doors to the extended community.

“If you are just going to be a congregation within your walls, that doesn't last very long,” Graham said. “So we see what we're doing (with this project) as far beyond that.

“Yes,” she said, “there are new walls going up, but we see those walls as opening huge doors to the community that we haven't seen before. That's really exciting for us as a congregation.”

Graham said neighbors also seemed excited about the new building.

During the yearlong project, she said, a day didn't pass that construction workers weren't asked what was going on. She said people driving by wanted to know what was happening and when the project would be completed — even how they might get involved.

The building is finished now, and the bell tower is back on the corner where it belongs.

Bill Koile, director of operations for the church, said neighbors and church members are glad to have it back.

“I guess we didn't realize how much of a landmark it was,” Koile said.

The new building will be dedicated Nov. 15 at a program beginning at 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Contact the writer:

444-1264, kenton.krueger@owh.com

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