This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/world/europe/an-afterlife-for-europes-disused-places-of-worship.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
An Afterlife for Europe’s Disused Places of Worship An Afterlife for Europe’s Disused Places of Worship
(3 months later)
BRUSSELS — When a church closes its doors, it is a sad day for its parishioners. When it is slated for demolition, it is a sad day for the larger community, as Lilian Grootswagers realized in 2005 when she and her neighbors in the small Dutch village of Kaatsheuvel learned that St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church was due to be torn down and replaced by a four-story apartment block. BRUSSELS — When a church closes its doors, it is a sad day for its parishioners. When it is slated for demolition, it is a sad day for the larger community, as Lilian Grootswagers realized in 2005 when she and her neighbors in the small Dutch village of Kaatsheuvel learned that St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church was due to be torn down and replaced by a four-story apartment block.
Leaping into action, Ms. Grootswagers started a petition drive, collecting 3,250 signatures, almost one-quarter of the village’s population, and sought help on a national level. As it turned out, St. Jozefkerk, built in 1933 as the centerpiece of an unusual architectural ensemble, was eligible to be on a register of historic buildings.Leaping into action, Ms. Grootswagers started a petition drive, collecting 3,250 signatures, almost one-quarter of the village’s population, and sought help on a national level. As it turned out, St. Jozefkerk, built in 1933 as the centerpiece of an unusual architectural ensemble, was eligible to be on a register of historic buildings.
Today, nine years after it held its last Mass, the church is still standing, empty but awaiting its next incarnation. Its rescue was a victory for a widening effort across Europe to preserve religious buildings in the face of rapid secularization and dwindling public resources.Today, nine years after it held its last Mass, the church is still standing, empty but awaiting its next incarnation. Its rescue was a victory for a widening effort across Europe to preserve religious buildings in the face of rapid secularization and dwindling public resources.
Begun as a grass-roots movement in 2009, the Future for Religious Heritage took shape in 2011 as a network of groups from more than 30 countries, dedicated to finding ways to keep churches, synagogues and other religious buildings open, if not for services, then for other uses.Begun as a grass-roots movement in 2009, the Future for Religious Heritage took shape in 2011 as a network of groups from more than 30 countries, dedicated to finding ways to keep churches, synagogues and other religious buildings open, if not for services, then for other uses.
But making the transition from places of worship to some other purpose is a tricky one, which necessarily involves not only community support, but also managerial skills. “You can only manage a building if it has income,” said Leena Seim, executive officer of the Future for Religious Heritage, which has an office in Brussels.But making the transition from places of worship to some other purpose is a tricky one, which necessarily involves not only community support, but also managerial skills. “You can only manage a building if it has income,” said Leena Seim, executive officer of the Future for Religious Heritage, which has an office in Brussels.
Perhaps nowhere is the plight of churches more stark than in the Netherlands, where about 1,000 Catholic churches — about two-thirds of the country’s total — are due to be shut down by 2025, a reorganization forced by a steady drop in attendance, baptisms and weddings. Those were the figures given by Cardinal Willem Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, in a report delivered to Pope Francis last December.Perhaps nowhere is the plight of churches more stark than in the Netherlands, where about 1,000 Catholic churches — about two-thirds of the country’s total — are due to be shut down by 2025, a reorganization forced by a steady drop in attendance, baptisms and weddings. Those were the figures given by Cardinal Willem Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, in a report delivered to Pope Francis last December.
This trend is building up to an “immense tsunami,” said Ms. Grootswagers, council secretary for the Future for Religious Heritage. “Every day, there is a story in the papers about another church closing. Before, it was kept quiet. Now they are saying it in the open.”This trend is building up to an “immense tsunami,” said Ms. Grootswagers, council secretary for the Future for Religious Heritage. “Every day, there is a story in the papers about another church closing. Before, it was kept quiet. Now they are saying it in the open.”
From Italy to Estonia, communities are scrambling to find ways to save oft-beloved buildings from destruction, neglect, and in some cases the ravages of mass tourism. The status of religious buildings varies widely. In France, churches built before 1905 mostly belong to the municipalities. In Britain, most belong to the Church of England.From Italy to Estonia, communities are scrambling to find ways to save oft-beloved buildings from destruction, neglect, and in some cases the ravages of mass tourism. The status of religious buildings varies widely. In France, churches built before 1905 mostly belong to the municipalities. In Britain, most belong to the Church of England.
In every country, and every case, there are intricate tax implications, legal issues and questions about the appropriate use of a formerly sacred place. Deconsecrated churches have been turned into health centers, libraries, museums, restaurants and even a roller skating rink. These outcomes can be controversial.In every country, and every case, there are intricate tax implications, legal issues and questions about the appropriate use of a formerly sacred place. Deconsecrated churches have been turned into health centers, libraries, museums, restaurants and even a roller skating rink. These outcomes can be controversial.
The key is an open debate, Ms. Seim said, adding, “It is most important to involve stakeholders at an early stage.” But it is not easy for communities to thrash through these issues on their own, which is why the Future for Religious Heritage has collected and shared ideas, experience and expertise across its network.The key is an open debate, Ms. Seim said, adding, “It is most important to involve stakeholders at an early stage.” But it is not easy for communities to thrash through these issues on their own, which is why the Future for Religious Heritage has collected and shared ideas, experience and expertise across its network.
A recent poll backs up the view that religious buildings are widely cherished as part of Europe’s cultural heritage. According to the poll, conducted by Sociovision among 6,000 citizens of eight European countries, four out of five consider the religious buildings in their midst to be “crucial” for the future of their communities, and three out of four favor opening them to non-religious activities if that would keep them open.A recent poll backs up the view that religious buildings are widely cherished as part of Europe’s cultural heritage. According to the poll, conducted by Sociovision among 6,000 citizens of eight European countries, four out of five consider the religious buildings in their midst to be “crucial” for the future of their communities, and three out of four favor opening them to non-religious activities if that would keep them open.
Armed with these findings, preservationists are pressing for aid from the European Union.Armed with these findings, preservationists are pressing for aid from the European Union.
“We have to convince people that churches are not just for believers,” Olivier de Rohan-Chabot, president of the Future for Religious Heritage, said in an interview in Paris. “Suddenly, we have realized that this is a problem that concerns our civilization.”“We have to convince people that churches are not just for believers,” Olivier de Rohan-Chabot, president of the Future for Religious Heritage, said in an interview in Paris. “Suddenly, we have realized that this is a problem that concerns our civilization.”