As Latter-day Saint congregations grow, the need for meetinghouses increases. But what happens when these buildings are replaced by larger facilities?
Here’s how some Utah meetinghouses have been used after they were no longer needed for worship. Let’s see!
Meetings and museums
As historic buildings, often the first of their kind in their area, meetinghouses not used for worship are the perfect place for community members to gather and share local history.
Here are some meetinghouses that have done just that.
1. Grantsville School and Meetinghouse
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The building was only used for Church meetings until 1865. It was then replaced by a larger meetinghouse.
However, it was subsequently used as a school and then as a town hall for over 20 years.
It later became a gas station for a short time and recently became a museum.
2. West Jordan Neighborhood Meetinghouse
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) have acquired several retired meetinghouses and now use them for their meetings.
This meetinghouse, also known as the “pioneer hall,” was dedicated in 1867. It replaced a cabin that the Saints used as a meetinghouse until they outgrew it in 1913 and replaced it with a larger one.
The “pioneer hall” housed animals and was used as a car repair shop before it was acquired and restored by the DUP.
Today it is used for weddings or occasional parties in addition to DUP meetings.
3. Torrey Stave Church
The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers also acquired this chapel, which was used as a school until 1917 and as a Church meetinghouse until 1928.
DUP used the building for its meetings until the 1970s and then inherited it in the 1980s.
The historic wooden building was removed from its original location as Church property in 1991, fully restored and is still in use today.
4. Parowan Meetinghouse
This chapel was built in 1870.
Over the years, it served as a meetinghouse, town hall, community recreation center, seminary building, school, and dance hall before the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers acquired it in 1927.
Today the building is a museum and DUP meeting place.
5. White Memorial Chapel
It was built in 1883, demolished in 1973, and rebuilt in 1976 on land donated by the Utah State Legislature.
Other fun facts about this chapel: It was built by the same architect who built the Assembly Hall and was the place where the Sunday School program was launched.
Today it is a non-religious chapel, used for civic purposes and can be reserved for weddings, concerts and other special events.
6. Alpine Meetinghouse
This chapel is known for the sandstone carving above its door, which was made by John Rowe Moyle, the same stonemason who inscribed “Holiness to the Lord” on the Salt Lake Temple.
The building was dedicated in 1863, used as a town hall before becoming a museum in the 1930s.
Houses
Although it may sound strange, old meetinghouses can be converted into a “sweet home,” apartments, and even factories.
Next, we will mention some meeting centers that have undergone some transformations
7. Lehi Ward 3 Building
It was built in the early 1890s, then a classroom wing was added in 1917.
When a new meetinghouse was built in 1955, the building was no longer used until Ross and Jean Lamb purchased it in the late 1960s.
The couple did their best to restore the historic structure and sometimes invited the neighborhood choir to practice in the old chapel to bring back the music.
8. Porterville Meetinghouse
Although this meetinghouse is now just a set of abandoned walls after it was destroyed by fire in 2001, it had a brief period as the home of the Bergman family.
Thomas Bergman purchased the meetinghouse for $2,000 in 1975 and restored it before moving in with his family.
It was originally built in 1908 and closed in 1945, probably due to high heating bills.
9. Provo Ward 4 Chapel
This chapel was converted into a beautiful one-room apartment building.
Although this structure is not as old as some buildings on this list, the chapel has a good history.
Its construction began in 1915, but was stopped due to World War I and was not completed until 1925.
Today, artifacts found in the building during its renovation are on display and its original brickwork is exposed, adding to its historic feel.
10. 1930s Salt Lake Meetinghouse
This chapel was used as a private school run by the Catholic church before it was purchased by the John Robinson family in 1992.
The family remodeled it over the years and used it for large family gatherings, parties, etc.
11. Treasureton Neighborhood Meetinghouse
This building was used by neighborhood members from 1953 to 1977. It was then converted into a six-bedroom, three-bathroom home.
Amon and Almira Hatch’s family lived there until 2016.
12. American Fork Ward 2 Chapel
This chapel not only became a home but also an organ factory.
It was built in 1903, some additions were made in 1929, including a cultural hall.
In the 1980s, the building was sold to Michael Bigelow, who used the first floor for his instrument factory. His family lives on the second floor.
13. Blue Church Lodge
After surviving multiple fires and renovations, this Park City building was converted into a lodging and townhouse in 1983.
Other uses
While an abandoned meetinghouse can have many different uses, here are some unique and exciting ways some old chapels are used today.
14. “Old Rock Church”
Usually, meetinghouses have a single use after they are no longer used for worship. However, this building was converted into a fabric store, a reception centre, a house and a sheltered apartment.
Currently, it is an events and accommodation center.
Built in 1872, it was originally used as a meetinghouse and town hall. It was later sold in 1969.
15. Granite Chapel
The construction of this building took almost 40 years and was dedicated in 1939. The color white was added in 1950, covering the original red brick.
When the space was replaced with a larger building in 1965, the cornerstone was also moved to a new building.
Shortly thereafter, Latter-day Saint sculptor Avard Fairbanks purchased the building for $2,000 and used it as an art studio until he died in 1987.
Today, it still houses Avard’s artwork.
16. Payson Ward 4 Meetinghouse
This chapel was built in 1910 and today serves as a meetinghouse for the Catholic Church.
17. Murray Ward 2 Meetinghouse
This building was built in 1909 and was used as a warehouse after it was no longer used for worship.
In 1977, this chapel was sold to the Alano Club, a help center for recovering alcoholics. It still houses that organization.
18. Ward 19 Meeting Center
In downtown Salt Lake, there are some special old chapels that now support the arts.
For example, the 19th Ward Meetinghouse, which was built in 1892, has housed the Salt Lake Acting Company since 1982.
The company also uses the neighboring Relief Society hall, which was recently renovated along with the meetinghouse.
19. Neighborhood 15 Meeting Center
This building was used as a recording studio for Non-Stop Music and LA East since the Church stopped using it for worship in the 1960s.
The NBA theme music for ESPN, ABC and Judge Judy was recorded there, as well as the trailer music for movies like Toy Story and The Lion King.
Stars like Elton John, Dolly Parton and the Backstreet Boys have also recorded there.
The building was put up for sale last year.
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Source: LDS Living