Acquisition of Church Building

	Photo by Adam Fried Covenant Family Chapel bought this building on East Second Street in Frederick, the former home of First Church of Christ Scientist.

"We're trying to listen and trust that we're going to be led to the right space," said church member Kesrah Hoffman.

The congregation placed the 6,000-square-foot church building on the market in September and, despite the poor economy, a sale was finalized June 29.

Covenant Family Chapel purchased the building for 0,000, according to Rick Peters, a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist board of trustees.

Peters said the cost of maintaining the aging building and the fact that the congregation wasn't filling the sanctuary every Sunday were factors that led to putting the property on the market.

"It was a desire to be in a better position to more ably serve our congregation and the community," he said.

Peters has been with the church for about seven years. It was a universal decision within the congregation, he said.

"Over the course of time that I've been there, I could see that the members were realizing that it was time to let go, as hard as it might have been for some of the members," he said.

There were about 15 members present on Sundays, Hoffman said. But the congregation teleconferences all of its services, so it is not known how many participate in services by phone.

"We considered this for a long time, and when we put it on the market, lots of buyers were interested," Hoffman said.

Covenant Family Chapel has been in Frederick for the past five years, pastor Neil Acheampong said.

The church is at 1517 W. Patrick St., Suites B3 and B4, but Acheampong said the congregation plans to hold the first service downtown on Sept. 4.

Acheampong said because of financial constraints, no major building renovations are planned, but some could be planned for later. Before the congregation moves in, it does plan to paint the walls.

Built in 1872, the building was Trinity United Methodist Church until the mid-1960s, when First Church of Christ, Scientist moved in. Inside is a second-floor sanctuary, first-floor classroom space and third-floor storage.

First Church of Christ, Scientist held its last service in the building June 26.

For the last two Sundays, the congregation has worshipped in St. Paul's Chapel of All Saints' Episcopal Church on West Church Street. The church has rented that space through the end of the summer, Hoffman said.

"It is perfect and cozy," she said of the chapel. "It's just really, really nice. We're so grateful."

Peters also described the chapel as cozy.

"It's probably much more suitable for the size of our group than that larger building," he said.

--First Church of Christ, Scientist also rents the Christian Science Reading Room at 239 N. Market St. Since the last service in the old building, the congregation has moved Wednesday evening testimony meetings to the reading room. It has no plans to vacate that building.

Peters said the congregation wants to remain in Frederick, and particularly in the downtown area. He said members are not considering new construction.

The congregation would like to combine the Christian Science Reading Room and a new worship space as long as it maintains a storefront presence.

"Now we're really just getting started with turning our attention to exactly where we'll proceed from here," Peters said. "We're trying to pray our way through and also take the practical steps that are needed."