Edgar County congregations find new life together after church closure

KANSAS, Ill. (WAND) — As thousands of churches across the United States close their doors each year, one Edgar County congregation is proving that a church is more than the building it calls home.

Kansas United Methodist Church served generations of families in Kansas, Illinois. For Beth Garrett, the church was where she learned to play piano as a child, eventually providing music for Sunday school and worship services on the same piano her family said was donated when the church was first built.

For decades, the church also served the community through its food pantry, but like many rural churches, it faced shrinking attendance and an aging building that required costly repairs.

"The roof was deteriorating and showing signs of needing to be replaced. The bricks were deteriorating," Garrett said. "We finally started talking about, is this good stewardship to continue putting that kind of money into the building?"

Just down the street, members of Kansas Presbyterian Church understood those challenges all too well. About 30 years ago, the congregation was also on the verge of closing before longtime member John Morris stepped in to lead services.

"I've said this for years," Morris said. "I think it's truly the church that refuses to die."

After months of discussion, members of Kansas United Methodist made the decision to demolish their church building rather than leave behind an empty, deteriorating structure.

"It was a tough decision, but I think we made the right decision," Garrett said. "I was brought to the church as a baby, and I brought my son there as a baby."

Now, Kansas Presbyterian Church welcomed the former Methodist congregation into its family, where the two churches now share the building.

The shared space is home to a growing food pantry and items from the former Methodist church, including its communion table, wall clock and historic piano.

Members said the partnership has strengthened both congregations while allowing improvements to the building, including remodeled rooms and updated electrical systems.

"The church is not the building," Garrett said. "It's the people in it, and we're still doing what we do."