How One Woman Turned a 153-Year-Old Church Into a Home
“I’m a big family person. A lot of my close friends still live here. I’m envisioning the best holiday parties ever. The second day of having the church, I had a karaoke party. I just love entertaining.”
Sometimes the dream of owning something of history is shaped like a gorgeous old church.(If you’ve seen our book, Cheap Old Houses, or have been following the incredible transformation of @welshhall, you know what I’m talking about!)
Lauren Gunderman had been on a quest to find a church of her own for over a decade. Her regular modes of searching weren’t returning listings that resonated, and then one day her real estate agent added a detour to their property hunting. “My realtor was taking me to see a totally different property and he was like, ‘All right, I’ll take you to that one, but you have to come with me to this church first.’ I put in the offer the same day I saw it!”
In December of 2023, Lauren closed on the 153-year-old venue in Waterville, NY, with one steeple (the other was destroyed by lightning and fire in 1917). She paid just $145,000. Lauren imagines the church as a place filled with laughter, shared meals, and cozy gatherings. More than anything, she dreamed of a space where community and connection could thrive. “I’m a big family person. A lot of my close friends still live here. I’m envisioning the best holiday parties ever. The second day of having the church, I had a karaoke party. I just love entertaining.”
At the moment, Lauren is relishing her church and studying its history. From the massive pipe organ to the bell tower, choir gallery, stained glass windows and the church bell, she has already come to know so much about the people who have inhabited the spaces before, and is excited for creating a place where people can continue to create happy, lifelong memories.
The town’s annual vintage car festival, a popular local event that takes place every September, feels like an optimal time to have an open house for neighbors. In the meantime, Lauren is also considering a new name for her beloved space.
To help land on its new moniker, Lauren is looking to the past. “I’m trying to find inspiration in the things I’m learning from the historical society. The ladies at the historical society actually had an idea that maybe I can have people from the town submit ideas.”
Thank you, Lauren, for saving this wonderful old church! To follow her journey—including the building’s history, its soon-to-be new name, and all the delightful discoveries along the way—give her a follow @127eastmain.
Want more inspiration from people who turn old churches into cozy, joy-filled homes? Grab a copy of the Cheap Old Houses book—or send one to that friend who sees magic in stained glass and soaring ceilings. You never know what dreamy, unexpected treasure might be waiting inside.
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