Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
On January 25, 2001, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asked "what does it take to keep a church alive when the neighborhood is full of empty lots and board-ups, and the cost of needed tuckpointing, roof repairs and weatherproofing can reach more than $ 2 million? The experts say it takes a nucleus of strong, faithful people, neighborhood support and programs for the neighborhood. An endowment, profit from a cemetery, a benefactor - all of these things help." The report looks at the stories of five parishes in historic north St. Louis.
St. Stanislaus Kostka church, built in 1891, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It continues to serve the Polish community of St. Louis, with one of its two weekly masses in Polish and nearly all the texts on the building in the native language of its founding members. The parish has 500 registered members and another 1,500 "Friends of St. Stanislaus." The parish grew when about 3,000 Poles came to St. Louis "to escape the Communist crackdown during the Solidarity years." Parishioners appreciate the church's beauty and the chance to keep alive for their children their Polish culture; Monsignor Ted Wojcicki, the paster of St. Stanislaus, says that "'People feel more comfortable praying in their first language.'"
Friedens United Church of Christ is a stunning church with a congregation going back to 1857. Over 1,000 people once came here to worship; now the Sunday congregation numbers about 35. The congregation continues, however, providing worship as well as social service programs such as free music lessons, after-school programs and publishing, photography and poetry programs for youth. Their expenses have been covered so far by contributions, the funds from the nearby cemetery, and an endowment.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church knew the value of a building is less than that of a congregation, and so decided six years ago to abandon their church, built in 1895. They now worship in a small sanctuary built in the school, where a bowling alley used to be. The building is falling apart and has been repeatedly vandalized; its staircases have been taken away and someone even tried to drag away the statues of Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Repairs would run to $ 2.5 million, far out of reach of the congregation with a $ 40,000 annual collection. So the 115 Sunday worshippers gather in their new sanctuary, with golden oak pews and stained glass from the original church. About 25% of the congregation is "elderly women with German last names"; the other members are young African-Americans. The church's money now goes to community service, including a choir, theater group and basketball team.
St. Teresa of Avila began as an Irish parish in 1865, and the church was built in 1900. Now, their "angel," a benefactor who was helped by the prists of the church, writes the checks when the building requires renovation. Its makeup began to change in the 1940s and 1950s when blacks began to enter the neighborhood; now, 90% of its 200-member congregation is African-American. The church serves as a stopping point for homeless people to get a doughnut. It also houses a clinic for the uninsured, an after-school program for youth in danger of dropping out, and a group investigating the best way to serve at-risk youngsters.
Zion Lutheran Church is looking for a permanent pastor, for the third time in 13 years. A group of about 75 occupies seating for 1,200 each Sunday, made up of roughly half older white members and half younger black ones. The church has many outreach programs, including sewing classes, meetings for former prisoners, a Boy Scout group, and basketball. Sunday school provides free breakfast for its attendees. The church also has a school, rectory and office building. A large endowment has allowed it to survive so far, but at the current rate it will last only another 7 years. The Rev. Gerhardt Schmidt, the 81-year-old interim pastor for the church, thinks the building is a burden, but some congregation members disagree. But no matter their position on the building, they agree that the church is the people, and are confident that the church will go on.