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Ethnic food manufacturing, beer brewing and entertainment could be the future of three Cambria City churches shuttered by the local Catholic diocese, architects and planners said.
More than 50 people turned out at the Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave., for the last of three workshops discussing the best uses for St. Columba, Immaculate Conception and SS. Casimir & Emerich.
The three houses of worship were closed last year as part of the merger of five churches in the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese.
The results of the public meetings were presented with preliminary drawings.
“These are the ideas that were presented to the architects,” said Tuomi Forrest, associate director of Partners for Sacred Places.
The Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which specializes in preservation and reuse of old churches, was enlisted to conduct a study of the Cambria City situation.
Ideas were whittled down to two or three concepts for each church.
SS. Casimir & Emerich is seen as a manufacturer of ethnic foods and a place to teach how the foods are prepared.
“We added the educational component to teach people how to make those foods so the tradition is carried on,” said Clive Copping, a project manager in architecture in Philadelphia.
“That led to the idea of having a TV show to show people how to prepare ethnic foods,” he said. The second concept, which focused more on the spiritual dimension, was to include a columbarium – a place to store a loved one’s ashes, he said.
“It’s very important that we have minimal impact on the building,” he said.
Immaculate Conception could find itself a place to hold concerts against the backdrop of a rock-climbing wall. A backstage area would be created with more seating. Or the church could be home to a brewpub.
“Those ideas were presented in one form or other in our meetings,” said John Springer, a Philadelphia architect. “We were very much able to use all the comments and synthesize the ideas we could come up with designs for.”
St. Columba is seen as the future theater for the performing arts and conference center.
“It will still remain a place where people can gather – maybe not for religious purposes,” said Carmine Carapella, an architect from Pittsburgh.
Carapella sought to “preserve the acoustics value of the church, where you can have up to 500 people.”
The church could find itself transformed into a conservatory.
“A place where you could come in where it would be quiet and warm to read a book or meditate,” said David O. Lose, a landscape architect from Nashville, Tenn.
A restaurant would be added among the beauty of the flowers, he said.
Whatever becomes of the churches, it’s hoped their architectural wonder will remain.
“When I came the first time I didn’t expect to find such high-quality architecture,” said Carapella, who is familiar with churches in his native Italy.
“I was astonished by the beauty of the churches,” he said.
Partners for Sacred Places is working with local organizations, including Save Our Steeples and Johnstown Area Heritage Association.
There is no timetable for locating funds to carry out plans for the churches.
“We’ll continue working with the diocese to assist to reduce energy costs and keep them watertight over the winter,” Forrest said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Architect Clive Copping talks Saturday at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center about potential uses for SS. Casimir & Emerich Church. Dave Lloyd
Discussion
Food, entertainment among proposed uses for churches
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