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Saturday, September 2, 2017

Teardown: Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church, Adams Street

It was different and doomed, it won't be remembered or missed, but its loss leaves the neighborhood with a little less. 

I have a thing about these "different" places set among subdivision mono-cultures. The old houses in the  MAK Historic District in Decatur Georgia are mighty good, Leila Ross Wilburn designed several. Adams Street is particularly good, a street of porches. The new houses are pretty good too. (See the map at the end of this blog)

Though this little church fits neither the quality, style, scale, or age of it's neighbors, I still have a thing.

I only have a few pictures:


20170328_122949 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
It's on my errand route, I've been driving by every week or two for more than a decade. The blank marquee is a sign of danger. Then...

20170328_122702 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Nothing says doom like an "Historical Preservation Commission" sign that says "DEMO NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURE"


20170328_122736 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
The auditorium and Sunday school are on the corner of Adams and Ashley: Calculated Acreage 0.29, Year Built 1967, Square Footage 3,228.








20170328_122758 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
There's an older building out back. Actually on a separate lot. 136 Ansley Street Calculated Acreage 0.31 Year built 1945 1088 sf

20170328_122803 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
More charming, more beat up.

20170328_123022 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
On the parking lot.

20170328_123028 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Little buildings like this are behind 1000 churches.

20170328_122958 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Fellowship hall downstairs and Sunday school in the "L."

20170328_122929 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
The big window.

Peeking through windows in the door.

20170328_122824 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Narthex

20170328_122852 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
There's a lantern in the narthex.

20170328_122840 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Pews are gone. There's still a "stage" in the chancel.

20170328_122920 2017-03-28 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
Lanterns and a trophy.

All the other windows were blocked.

20170714_135933 2017-07-14 Bethel Outreach Deliverance Church 204 Adams Street Decatur Georgia teardown
I just missed the demolition. Wish I was there earlier

Map




Terry's tiny notes:
"The problem is that most churches thought their building was a permanent representation of their congregation."

"Even those who want to build impressive liturgical structures may need to consider whether or not this makes sense, particularly if we do not live in a French village that will be the same in 500 years."
 - 2 Wrong Ways to Think About Church Buildings