European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A tue Davy owner of Angel s Corner restaurant poses in the choir left Vertol Tang the main dining room of what As once a Church in Pittsburgh. Divine dining in converted churches by Bob Dvorchak associated press befitting a former Church. 1he fare am Eangel s Coiner restaurant in Pittsburg includes Angel half pasta and sole is. Andrew named Lor the Patron Saint of fishermen. The choir loll is now a bar the Sacristy a Kitchen. A waiter s station has replaced the altar. Pews for sealing line the Walls. Votive candles adorn tables under a Cathedral ceiling accented by stained Glass windows then is concent that tourists mar Fradus Rybo destroying the monuments of Luxor. The architecture Lent itself to our idea very  says owner Chuck Davis who opened Angel s Corner five years ago in the former holy spirit byzantine Catholic Church in Pittsburgh we had the tools Lor ambiance. The foundation was there. But we vib tried not to be too thick with the Church theme. We Don t want people of come in and eel hey have lobe  in Pittsburgh and elsewhere in places Sike Atlanta and new Orleans Many churches have bean converted from houses of worship into secular uses. Due to shifts in population and changing neighbourhoods congregations have abandoned old churches and moved to newer ones. Bui the buildings Are often architecturally sturdy built for crowds centrally located and easily changed into restaurants condominiums doctor s offices Community centers libraries Heaters ice Cream Parlours or whatever. Al holy spirit Church the congregation outgrew i he building and Buill a larger one. One Reslau Waleur tried and failed before Chuck Davis and his wife bought in at a sheriff s Sale. Once the congregation leaves it s just another piece of properly says Davis who placed a hand carved wooden Angel out front and added a Gargoyle to the choir loft. Sacred items were removed and a prayer of de Sanctification was said before the congregation relocated the property cannot be sold unless m is de Church cd says the Rev. Daniel Magulick. Assistant Chancellor of the byzantine Catholic diocese of Pittsburgh. Church officials Hope their former buildings serve the Community and Are not defiled. The first Choice for a buyer is another denomination and efforts Are made to Weed out buyers who might have profane purposes in mind 11 we want in to be a respectable Type of operation says Gene Ovalo. Director of the property and planning for the Pittsburgh diocese of the roman Catholic Church which has iwo churches for Sale we re very mucin concerned about what our buildings Are used for the Rev Thomas Rke. A member of the Board of landmark conservancy in new York cily and Rector of Calvary and is. George s episcopal Church says. Conversion of churches and the recycling of architecture has been gang on for As Keg As christianity has been Active in the world. When something Beautiful such As a stained Glass window is created and if in can be used in a Good Way the religious Community should encourage  clerics Don t mind if former churches arc born again As restaurants or businesses thai maintain then dignity. Bui converting churches into bars 01 nightclubs is owned on. In Rural Wayne. W a vacant Church of Christ was bought and changed into a Pavalc liquor club called the Kitten s Den about eight years ago neighbors twin to Whon the pews were traded in for bar stools police fielded numerous complaints about noise and disturbances some people around Here went crazy Over Ilsa a Kermit Mills who opened the Kitten s Den i just bought an empty cinder Block building. It did t have a Steeple or  the bar closed Atler five years. Mills leased it in 1984 to a pentecostal Church whore the congregation prayed and fasted for two weeks of Chase away evil Spiri i a it was later sold to a cabinetmaker. Other conversions have gone smoother. Is. Mary a another Catholic Church in Pittsburgh was spared from Tho wrecking Ball alter i was nought by the stale in 1961 for Iho right of Way of a new Road tha route was later changed. The Church built in 18-58 by the bavarian Beria cd Rie order was bought Tor $106.000 by a couple of preservationists. Adjoining the Church was a Lempo Raty dorm Toi Benoni come priests travelling through the cily loan Abbey in Latrobe. A the rectory was converted Mlo a 26-room, european style hotel called the priory which opened a year ago ii Calora 10 travelling businessmen and weekend romantics we did t want to see anything old Lorn Down said the new owner Mary Ann Gral ii happened to be a building with 26 rooms that we did t know what to do with " guests get free breakfasts and complimentary wine or Sherry m the evening they Don t mind sleep in quarters thai once housed in cols there Are a lot of voyeurs who probably Tovo in we be not had one complaint says Gral who Hopes to convert the Church Mlo 3 banquet Hall or meeting room in Atlanta a 72 old methodist Church of gothic construction is now the Ahby. A Resta uial with 60 loot High a titled ceilings wailers Wear Monk s habits patrons sit in High backed Monk s   ploys background music on the drink list is the Monk s cup made of ice Cream and liquor to try to  the Jalace a med Jval flavor. Says owner Bill s in Cannyn we do in like an old monastery wine and Lood were inc lie Ait of a monastery what s Belle lit i ing Archi inc lure Loi a restaurant than an old church7" Oustian i a inca Orleans restaurant was Hill in 1914 3, a lutheran Church ii also was a full chinch of god null 14 years ago when it was bought by Christian Ansel the sleep led isl aural is named Lor him. Not an it it i looking for location Ansel says ii us so happened me crunch was m this  Given the trend of clinches having other uses some religions arc planning Lor possible Lulu re conversions Norman no did one Cir of real stale Lor the lutheran Clinch of America says an in House architect is i Ali to so a Fiso Iho 5,400 congregations who May Tio t did a no f Ritj iches it fail Camii auction Tot o something u it Tel. Nom Linnra . Mulli purpose and  Nuddo Siyi we Anllo look at the practical Side we Don t want Illo be a Monument to some architect " Cem bems 1987 the stars and stripes Page 15