Is it a Church? or Is it a Home?

Church?  Home?  Sometimes homes become churches.  Small congregations many times start out in someone’s home.  What about a church that becomes a home?

As many know, creative people have purchased abandoned churches and designed into a home.  There is one such church/home in the St. Louis, Missouri area.  I don’t think this church was abandoned.  I think the congregation outgrew the building and put it on the market—this church had no room for additions.

The interesting thing about this church in St. Louis that has become a home is actually a church that my father, Andrew Nothum, owner of Nothum Bros. Construction Company, built.  Not only that, I attended that church until I was about 17 years old.

For the past couple years I had noticed that this church had become a home.  I have thought of knocking on their door to see it, but I feel that would be rude, and I have refrained.

Last March a St. Louis area friend, who I grew up with and who I attended church with, sent me an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper.  It was an article about the church becoming a home.  Now I was really interested.

Since the article had their name, I was able to write them a letter before we came to Missouri for our summer vacation.  I wondered how to convince them to open their home to me.  I thought too many people may just be nosey to see it, but I had a history with this church.

I mailed them a letter and told them that my father had built this church.  Then I thought that many people build buildings who really are amateurs.  I decided to tell them in the letter of the many schools and churches in the area he built, along with the many homes he built.  What was really crazy is that it popped into my head was the name of the architect, which I also shared in the letter. The architect who designed this church also designed the chapel at Beaumont Boy Scout Camp in High Ridge, Missouri.

I gave them my email address, and to my surprise they responded immediately.  They did not know who built the building or who the architect was.  They were so gracious and invited us to come view their home. (Dennis and me along with my friend Frannie (who sent me the article) and her husband, Mel.

John and Brenna are an amazing couple who redesigned this spectacular building not only into a home, but a home that shows warm and comfort.  (I could easily live there, but unfortunately, they didn’t offer that to me)!

As soon as I walked into this building, I was struck with the beauty of the design.  I love modern home designs, and this one did not disappoint.

This church had been sold a couple times after the original congregation, so there were things done to the building that surprised me.  Fortunately, they were things that could be undone.  What were these things?  The windows in the sanctuary were drywalled over!  Who does that?  Also, they put a yellow film over all the windows in the front A-frame design.  I’m thinking the pastor of that church did not want any congregant to watch out the windows rather than listen to him!  I hope they didn’t lock the doors when the service began!  (That’s a joke, I hope)!

Here are before and after photos of this building.

Photos of the front window

Other interior photos:

This is Brenna and John. They are so creative and love their new home. I love that they had to put on sign on their door that this is a private residence. I wonder how many people still thought it was a church and try to just walk in? John and Brenna were so gracious and welcoming to their home.

I wondered how a church could look like a home, but this passed all my expectations.