Staff Blog: The Consecration of a New Church

We Episcopalians in Western Michigan have strong attachments to our church buildings. They are beautiful structures with stained-glass windows, high ceilings, and historic design. They are places of sanctuary where generations of families experience the sacraments and love of community with reverent consistency.

It’s difficult when a parish must leave or face the loss of its building. There is fear that without the building, there will be no congregation, no ministry, no outreach, and a lost connection to the past.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Paw Paw, however, has just walked through the darkness of losing not one but two buildings to which their identity was closely linked. Their journey comes full circle at the consecration of their new church building on Saturday, January 12, 2013 in Paw Paw. (Click here to see EDWM calendar for details).

The original church in Paw Paw, like many of our churches, has a Michigan historic marker. Consecrated in 1876, it served the congregation for well over 120 years. However, it was in desperate need of repair and renovation, which was cost-prohibitive to the congregation. The parish decided at that point to build a new, much-larger church.

Five years ago, when the Very Rev. Rebecca Crise, Dean of the St. Joseph Deanery and rector of St. Mark’s was called to the parish, they had already moved into the new building.

But the church was quickly draining its cash reserves on the new mortgage.

Mother Rebecca helped the parish see it had to set priorities between the building and the ministry that they wanted, using the resources that they had.

In early 2011, the vestry of St. Mark’s voted to sell the new building.

The bank which had mortgaged it agreed to a short sale. It was sold to a non-denominational church in Paw Paw.

Faced with having no building or worship space, the congregation was grateful to form a partnership that enabled them to rent space from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Paw Paw. Since Seventh Day Adventists meet on Saturday, St. Mark’s was able to use their space for Sunday services, where they worshipped one year.

“The time after we left the new building was a year of grieving,” said Mother Rebecca. “The building that we lost was a symbol of hopes, dreams, blood, sweat and tears. It was a time of recognizing that if we were going to survive, we had to pick ourselves up and try again. It was a time of prioritizing.”

However, the congregation longed for a home of its own. It was difficult to do their ministry in another church’s building.

In a quick turn of events over the summer, the congregation became aware that a small church in Paw Paw, one they had once wanted to buy, was available for sale again. The owners of the little white church contacted the St. Mark’s treasurer and said they were seeking a buyer

With little time to make a decision, Mother Rebecca implored the congregation to dig deep and offer what they could for the purchase.

The congregation raised $80,000, and the offer was accepted. The congregation voted unanimously to purchase the building. The Standing Committee of the diocese later approved the purchase as well.

The first service of St. Mark’s in the new building was a funeral for a long-time member on November 3rd of this year. The first Sunday in the new church was November 4th.

Mother Rebecca admits it has been difficult for St. Mark’s. Membership in a congregation is lost anytime big changes are made. The loss was two-fold, having happened when leaving their first building as well as their subsequent brand-new building. But the vote to purchase the new St. Mark’s building, a little white church built in 1956, was unanimous.

“It is exciting to watch a congregation pay attention to prudent stewardship and focus on the needs of ministry,” said the Rev. Canon William Spaid. “St. Mark’s seems to have found an ideal location for serving the needs of the Paw Paw community."

Their new worship space holds about 100 people comfortably, although they are still seeking seating. There is also space for one office and a sacristy. Downstairs there is space for a fellowship hall and several classrooms.

“Our energy is high, and there is hope, enthusiasm and a sense of ownership,” said Mother Rebecca. “St. Mark's has proven you can let go of the building and survive and thrive.”

You can learn more about St. Marks Episcopal Church in Paw Paw on their website (click here now). The Very Rev. Rebecca Crise can be emailed by clicking here now. This article was written by Communications Assistant to the Bishop, Karmel Puzzuoli.