Congregation to build new sanctuary
By Jay Tokasz
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Fix the old church building, purchase a former Catholic
church about four miles away, or knock down the old church and
build anew.
Those were the options facing St. John's Evangelical
Lutheran Church in West Seneca after structural engineers
determined that the congregation's longtime worship space
posed a safety hazard because its truss system was faulty.
The congregation has decided to stay at 3512 Clinton
St., where its been located since 1870, but church members
plan to tear down the current church and build a new
sanctuary.
Parishioners learned they had to leave their
longtime worship space in January after structural engineers
determined the 1911 red-brick structure did not have
sufficient support for its roof.
They've been worshipping in the parish hall since
then, while exploring their future options.
"We had to face up to this and make some sort of
decision," said the Rev. John R. Klatt, pastor.
The congregation of more than 250 members voted in
May by a two-thirds majority in favor of building a new church
on the current site.
The project is estimated to cost about $1.5 million,
which would include demolition of the old church.
The congregation has yet to start raising money for
construction.
Church members considered stabilizing the old church,
but those costs were estimated at between $1.6 million and
$2.1 million, without any other renovations.
They also examined the possibility of purchasing the
former St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church at 4928 Seneca
St., which closed in 2008 when the parish merged with nearby
Queen of Heaven parish.
The purchase likely would have been the least costly
option, but many church members wanted to stay at the
historical site of St. John's.
The congregation will form a building committee and
work with a building consultant from the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, the national denomination, which also will
provide an architect to help with preliminary plans for a new
building, said Klatt.
