Church Space: Think Outside the (Sacred) Box

As the US emerges from the pandemic lockdown, there will likely be myriad opportunities for churches to purchase or lease space for those willing to think outside the box. Now that working from home has been normalized, some companies may consider saving money on office rent and continuing to work remotely leaving those spaces vacant. Many retail stores are reducing brick-and-mortar stores to opt for more online engagement. The market could be flooded with opportunities for churches to secure space.

If your church does not own a building or is looking for a more permanent or larger space to rent, it would be worthwhile to begin talks about whether or not your church would consider non-traditional and non-sacred spaces for the long term. Some of the spaces that might be a good fit are spaces like former schools, gyms, theaters, corporate offices, and retail space including department stores, box stores, grocery stores, and strip malls.

Of course, you’ll need to have a bit of an imagination to see the possibilities. And you’ll need the finances to renovate and repurpose the space for your use. Worship space will require acoustical engineering. The non-traditional spaces we’ve mentioned won’t have the acoustics that the architecture of most sacred spaces provides. You’ll want to identify if there is space that can be used for a nursery, classrooms, offices, multipurpose space, and perhaps a kitchen. Take into account location, parking, zoning restrictions and the ability to meet your current needs but also future growth. 

If your church is willing to consider non-traditional spaces, you should develop a plan for saving and/or raising the money to invest. You can also find a commercial realtor to help identify properties as they become available. We’d encourage you to start down this road as soon as you’re able. Raising and saving the necessary funds takes time, but when you find the right space, you’ll need to be able to move on it quickly. 

If your church would like to buy or rent a new space, talk with your Partner Strategist to devise a strategy. If you’re not yet a client, contact us at hello@auxilio.parters to learn more about our service and how we could serve your church.