The Beginning

Hello! My name is Sheryl, and please allow me to share my story of how this church-to-home historic preservation project began.

In August of 2020, a new chapter of my life arrived. Through Facebook, I announced that I was buying a church. Yes, a church!!!!

But first, the contextual backstory.

Most of 2018, 2019 and 2020 were spent living between Minnesota, Arizona, Colorado, Mexico and Belize. Call the vagabond lifestyle what you will, and it was a strange indeed, but I figured there would be plenty of opportunity to get another job, grow roots and reconnect with friends. Being in Minnesota for my parents in their final days was worth every sacrifice. They passed away in late 2019, a mere 28 days apart after 67 years of marriage.

Their house closed on March 20, 2020 and guess what, COVID! We all have a COVID story, just like a 9/11 story. And I decided to hunker down in Belize.

Five days earlier, on March 15th, my car was packed and I had a goal of returning to Virginia, get a job, and a new home. Ha! How things turn on a dime. I wanted to start a new chapter. I was ready. I needed a new beginning. I craved stability.

Upon returning to the USA in mid May of 2020, I settled my parents’ estate, repacked the car and took a road trip to Virginia. At this point, my friend from Colorado called and said it was time to do the kitchen project that I designed for him in August of 2018. Yay! I can do this! More experience! My first full kitchen remodel from design, utility relocation and install. So I took a hard right turn! And experience I’ll need for the church.

So exactly how does the church come into play? Well, I got a call from the church seller while awaiting pushback from the Belize airport on my repatriation flight home to Minnesota in May. He wanted to know if I was still interested. I looked at it originally in March in 25 degree temperatures. We scheduled another walk thru the following week. Not just a church, my Mother’s childhood church. The United Congregational Church in Rose Creek, Minnesota.

It was built in 1922 and has been vacant for nearly 30 years. After the church closed, it was purchased by a guy who used it as a woodshop and storage facility. Call it the original man cave. Not just any guy, a guy that was a brother to my dad’s cousin.

So after nearly three decades of vacancy, I’m bringing her back to life. All the original stained glass windows are intact, bell still rings in the belfry, four original pews remain as well as the tin ceilings hidden underneath the false drop acoustic ceiling tile.

The plan: A single family structure. For me! For the community! For historic preservation! For the love of old churches! For a new beginning and challenge of all things renewed!

Goal: Complete renovations in 2022, the 100th anniversary of the church. And on June 15, 2022, the grand opening celebration! Just so happens to be the 70th anniversary of my parents’ wedding day in said chapel!