Methodist Conference lists former church for sale

A former Methodist church with 19 stained glass windows, wide plank floors and oak wainscoting is available for $55,000, minus the pastor and parishioners.

The church at 107 State St. in Rensselaer Falls is one of three north country United Methodist churches to close in recent years because of aging congregations that struggled to attract younger members while facing escalating costs of operation.

"I am asked occasionally to come in and talk about options," said the Rev. Beth O. Benham, superintendent for the Northern Flow District, which includes more than 80 churches from Chateaugay to Pulaski. "LaFargeville had the conversation a few years ago when word got out that some churches were closing. Man, they got energized in a hurry and they made the decision to keep going."

Others have shut their doors.

South Colton merged with Colton. North Bangor closed. Some churches sold parsonages, including Heuvelton.

Rensselaer Falls was among those selling their parsonages; theirs had been unoccupied for two years. The sale to Brandi L. Bessette in 2006 was for $26,000.

The congregation wanted to use the money to pay bills, but Methodist Church rules dictate the cash could be used only for renovations. The cost of operations is supposed to come from the collection plate, a daunting task when regular worshippers number about 15.

"We got overcome by utility bills. It all came to naught," member John W. Danis said. "Everybody got tired out and exhausted. It was a real disengagement of community. Closing a church is no less contentious than an ugly divorce."

After the local church board voted to discontinue, it turned the building over to the Methodist Conference. For a time, Mr. Danis couldn't even look at the church, which closed July 1, 2007.

"There was actually a period of mourning," he said. "I didn't drive down that street for a while."

Fellow member Connie C. Palmer and her husband stopped going to church for six months. Although they eventually settled on the United Methodist Church in DeKalb Junction, they have, so far, declined to participate in more than worship. They don't worry anymore if the lawn is mowed or the furnace filled.

"Now, we can just go, sit in church, enjoy it and go home," she said.

Mrs. Palmer acknowledges she was bitter about the conference's decision to sell her home church, the only one left in Rensselaer Falls.

"It was our community here in town," Mrs. Palmer said. "That's what we've missed. Now, we're kind of scattered."