The Associated Press

CHARLESTON -- For sale: One of a kind, downtown living opportunity. Historic construction, vaulted ceilings, corner lot, seats 1,200. Asking $3.9 million. Call New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church.

The congregation of New Tabernacle is putting its church up for sale as a single-family residence. After years of being marketed to other churches and the city's rejection of one buyer who wanted to turn it into a theater, the 150-year-old church is available as a home.

"The structure itself is just a mammoth responsibility, and with our small membership, it's very difficult to keep it up in the condition that the building deserves," said the Rev. Francis Covington, pastor of New Tabernacle.

Still, few are happy about the prospect of the Gothic-style church being turned into a private home, a process that real estate agent Chad Drayton says would cost about $2 million.

"It's blasphemy to think of this as a residence," Drayton said.

The church was built in 1859 and designed by local architect Francis D. Lee. The property also includes offices in a converted Charleston house attached to the main structure.

There is little parking available, which is a problem for other churches who might want to move in. It also has none of the amenities that modern churches want, such as large kitchens and extra rooms where youth and bible study groups can gather. And, there is no room on the property to grow.

Covington said those are some of the reasons his congregation wants to move.

"It's just obsolete as a church," Drayton said.

That has happened across Charleston -- known as the Holy City for the number of churches downtown -- where the old houses of worship have been converted for new uses.

"To lose the churches within the neighborhoods is a tragic loss to the way of life that existed in Charleston for centuries," said Cynthia Jenkins, executive director of the Preservation Society. "The impact of losing a corner building and a use like that would be pretty significant."

A proposal to turn the church into a 400-seat theater for the Charleston Stage Co. was opposed by residents because of traffic and noise concerns in the residential area.

"My bedroom window is 35 feet from the church, the part where the stage was going to be," said Judy Murphy. "With performances getting out at 11 o'clock, I just thought it was terribly inappropriate."

Murphy said she is not pleased about the idea of the church being a home, but she says that is better than a theater.

You must be logged in to comment.