Update, 2/15: As Miz Brooke Smith notes in a comment below, the report turns out not to be true.
The congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Heights has reversed itself and voted not to tear down its 1932 brick sanctuary building after all, abc13 reports. Instead, they’ve decided to turn it into a museum.
Will it be a Heights art museum, as proposed and promoted by local gallery owner and engineer Gus Kopriva? No. Congregants voted to turn the structure at the corner of 15th and Cortlandt into a museum of Lutheran history.
- Historic sanctuary in the Heights to become museum [abc13]
- Previously on Swamplot: Saved by a HAM: The Museum Plan for Immanuel Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church: Saved for Demolition Next Year, Can This Lutheran Church Be Saved?
Photo of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1448 Cortlandt St.: Flickr user dey37
Great news, and glad to hear the owners decided to preserve the building. Also glad to see a museum about Martin Luther. Dude was rather important.
The museum type is unimportant. Saving the beautiful church structure was what was important to the congregation and many in the neighborhood.
Maybe the museum type is important.
The museum type is only important to the owners of the museum. If it is a publicly owned museum, then the citizens have say. If it is a privately owned museum, then the private curators decide.
The critical issue I think for many folks on here was saving the church structure. Having a museum to what was preached their and it’s history I think is quite appropriate.
Sweet!
It should be the Limelight, v2.0
A museum of Lutheran history sounds unbelievably boring, but at least the building remains, which was the outcome I think most people were hoping for.
I’m an art lover and I have to say, Houston has enough art museums. I wouldn’t mind a few of them changing focus somewhat, but It’s hard for me to see how we need more of them.
Score 1 for the preservationists. Way to go HHA!
Excellent. And for a museum of Lutheran history, well, get Garrison Keillor down here for the dedication gala.
Any historical figure against “indulgances” is okay with me.
It would be cool if they acquire an ancient printing press, as well.
Per this morning’s Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6865191.html
Ken Bakenhus, president of the church’s governing board, said razing the sanctuary was delayed until May to give preservation advocates a chance to submit proposals.
….
Bakenhus labeled as untrue a Friday press statement from City Council members Edward Gonzalez, whose district includes the church, and Sue Lovell, head of the city’s historic preservation committee, that claimed the sanctuary would be preserved as a Lutheran museum.
Lovell spokesman Tim Brookover said the councilwoman’s office received a report from a preservationist attending the meeting that there had “been a lot of talk about a Lutheran museum†and presumed the church group approved the plan.
Though informally discussed, such a proposal has not been formally presented to the governing board, Backenhus said.