A former church in the Kernville section of Johnstown that was dissolved in 2009 is still giving back to the community.
In 2008, with membership dwindling, members of St. John United Church of Christ, 531 Somerset St., recognized the need for outreach in the Kernville community, said Toby Horner, a member for 30 years.
“Membership had been dwindling for 10 to 15 years,” said Horner, who is vice president of sales at Metz Culinary Management with corporate offices in Dallas, Luzerne County.
“We could no longer afford a full-time minister and knew we had to dissolve the church, but we were looking for some good to come out of it.”
“We wanted to sell or give it away, but members were concerned it would be turned into a restaurant or bar. We also didn’t want it to turn into an eyesore.”
The church’s first venture came in 2005 when Paula Newman, then executive director of the YWCA of Greater Johnstown, had a child-care facility in the church building and the adjacent parsonage.
Bridge to Life, an independent, nondenominational church, had its start at St. John from June 2005 to July 2008.
“We had dual services Sunday mornings,” Horner said.
“A lot went to both services. The younger people liked Bridge. It was a good partnership.”
Bridge to Life never was able to purchase the church building, but whenever they established their current house of worship in Upper Yoder Township, St. John donated furniture, hymnals and other items to the new church.
“We mentored them,” Horner said.
“We supplied ministers and helped each other. They were able to grow their congregation with no financial obligation.”
The former church building now houses Christ Centered Community Mission Outreach, led by the Rev. Sylvia King, a youth mentor and community leader.
“We sold it to her for $1 with the stipulation the sanctuary would remain a place of worship,” Horner said.
“The parishioners wanted to protect the sanctuary.”
Church members knew the downtown church wasn’t marketable, but did not want it to fall into disrepair.
The building turned out to be the perfect fit for King, who had worship services while paying rent until the sale was finalized.
“It was a hard thing for these parishioners to give up their place of worship that had been left to them by generations of families before them, but they unselfishly recognized that the building could serve a higher purpose if fully utilized to the benefit of the surrounding community,” Horner said.
“The church was never empty with no Sunday service.”
When St. John dissolved, there was still money in the bank from bequests given to the church by members through the years.
Horner said once assets are liquidated, cash will be earmarked for various charities around the city – the church’s final act of generosity.
The Doerr family, who were church members, gave an endowment that built Arbutus Park Manor in Richland Township.
St. John’s Reformed Church was dedicated in 1880 and commissioned in 1885.
The 1889 Johnstown Flood destroyed the original church building, and the cornerstone for a new building at the same location was laid in 1890.
Floods in 1936 and 1977 caused extensive damage, and the church was completely renovated.
Horner said many items that survived the 1889 flood have been donated to the Heritage Discovery Center in the Cambria City section of Johns-town and the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St. in downtown Johnstown.
In 1957, the church became a member congregation of the United Church of Christ.
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