New Worship Facility, St. Paul Lutheran Church

The Durant Group Inc.

Recognitions: 2007 Newspaper Insert

Project Description

The small wooden church had served its rural community faithfully for decades, until a fire suddenly brought it to ruins. The congregation, however, wasted no time in working towards rebuilding this country-style church. The new 6400 s.f. design pays homage tot he former building in style, while providing a much more flexible worship and gathering space. Whereas the original building was two levels with the sanctuary above and the fellowship hall in the basement, the new design brings all activity to one level. The kitchen opens into the narthex/fellowship hall in the basement, before and after worship services. On occasions when the sanctuary is not large enough, partitions are easily moved to allow additional seating in the fellowship hall. The character of the original church was preserved in the Gothic stained glass windows that line the walls of the sanctuary. A stone wall was added as a backdrop to the chancel, lighted with glass block side windows. A glass block cross placed within the stone backdrop provides a day-lit symbol for the congregation by day, and, as it is lit from the interior, a beacon of hope to the community by night.