Group Seeking Corporate Donations to Save Rock Hill Church
The Save the Rock Hill Church Committee has to raise more than $600,000 in just a few short weeks to save the historic Rock Hill Presbyterian Church from the wrecking ball.
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The Save the Rock Hill Church Committee is on a mission. In just a few short weeks, it has to raise $639,500 to save the historic Rock Hill Presbyterian Church from being raised.
The church, which was built in 1845, sits on land currently owned by U-Gas. The company, which owns the church, plans to build a gas station and convenience store on the land. Rock Hill officials say construction will most likely begin in a couple months.
In January, Rock Hill accepted ownership of the church provided that sufficient funds be raised to pay for the relocation and upkeep. City officials also required the committee to develop a business plan and determine a relocation site.
At a Jan. 17 board meeting, the group proposed moving the church and the Fairfax House, which is also on the U-Gas property, to Rock Hill Park. The two historic buildings are located at the corner of Manchester and McKnight roads.
At a board meeting this week, the committee presented a draft of a business plan, which included using the two buildings for events, such as meetings, weddings and receptions. The board approved the plan.
"Now the real work begins," said Chris Musial, a committee spokesperson. "If we don't raise the money the church will be torn down."
Musial said local historians recommended that the group have a business plan in place approved by the city before approaching corporate donors.
"Donors want to know that the community is behind this, and that they aren't throwing their money into something that doesn't matter," he said.
The group is holding a candlelight vigil at the church Sunday at 7 p.m. Musial said he is hoping that the event raises awareness of the importance of saving the historic church, which has continuously promoted racial integration and diversity since before the Civil War.
Jane
12:39 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I really hope that this church gets moved and saved and that corporations pull through on this. But I still have to express my frustration with the Presbyterian Church for selling it in the first place. Didn't they have any sense of reverence for their own religious history and legacy? This troubles me. I also am frustrated with the city officials of Rock Hill for approving U-Gas originally. It seems like mere lip service for the aldermen to now support the church - more like a public relations stunt than anything. The time for them to have supported a historical structure within their community would have been earlier.
After watching all this unfold in Rock Hill, I can't say I have very positive feelings towards the town. I live in Maplewood but was hoping to move into the Webster Groves school district when my kids are older. Here's one person who will NOT be considering Rock Hill. I'll look in Webster Groves or Shrewsbury instead.
Bill Roswit
5:22 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2012
I agree with the previous comment 100% as far as the role of the Presbyterian Church as well as that of the city officials of Rock Hill. For at least some (but not all) of the City officials, I can't help but agree that there support at this point is only "mere lip service".
Bill
Ted Knight
2:13 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
I have driven through this town and I see vacant buildings all around including the church and Fairfax house. The Fairfax house was moved years ago and with a little lipstick that was recently added the inside still looks rundown and unusable. Does anyone one realize what it takes to run a community. Police and Fire, Wait they run their Fire department out of a metal shed and house??? If this church was so special why is it that now when the wrecking ball is coming we have this grassroot effort. Seems this should have been done before the church went vacant.
Ted
Donna Jobst
11:25 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I think we Americans should take lessons from the Irish. In Ireland you will see a new house, next to a house with a thatched roof, right next to an stone house that is centuries old. The Irish are proud of their present, future and their past. They want the world to not only hear about their past, but to see it as well. Your can see mansions from long ago that have survived the good times, and the worst of times. Including a potato famine that killed thousands of its citizens. ( potatoes being the staple of the Irish diet) You will see castles that survived not only wars long since forgotten, but famine and natural disasters as well. You will also see the shells of the ones that didn't fend as well. But still left there for others to see what time has taken from them. There are big magnificent churches, and the small one room churches has that served It's parish and parishioners well. All of this is on an island, where land is limited by nature. So many buildings left as landmarks and tourist attractions for all the world to see. Yes the Irish are proud of their past and their heritage as well. Yet we as Americans are so caught up in what's bright, shiny and new. We forget that older things are a link and part of our past as well. A past we should remember, a heritage we should be proud to conserve. DonnaJobst Columbia, IL