Converting churches to music venues

The Wall Street Journal (August 30, 2006) had an article about how Church of Christ, Scientist in Yakima, Washington was purchased and became the Seasons Music Festival. WSJ.com - When Churches Convert to Arts Venues

"The acoustical properties and central locations of old sanctuaries often make them ideal concert halls, but converted churches and synagogues find other performance uses as well. Across the Cascade Mountains from Yakima, Seattle's Town Hall, another decommissioned Christian Science church, functions as a cultural kaleidoscope. ...

"A few of the dozens of other church-to-performance-hall conversions:

• In Eugene, Ore., a massive former Baptist church houses the Shedd Institute's three performance halls, two dance studios, library and an array of community meeting rooms.

• The Old Church in Portland, Ore., held Calvary Presbyterians upon its founding in 1882, then Baptists until its declining membership had to put it on the market. Rescued from oblivion by community action in 1967, it became a performance hall presenting everything from writer seminars to concerts by Tuvan throat singers.

• Since 1992, the First Congregational Church of St. Louis, built in 1884, has led a new life as the Grandel Theatre.

• In New Haven, Conn., the Yale Repertory Theatre is in what was the Calvary Baptist Church.

• In British Columbia, the Victoria Conservatory of Music has two concert halls in the former Metropolitan United Church, built in 1894. The conservatory took over the church in 2000."