St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Denver is taking on a new life as it turns 100 years old. The historic building’s congregation disbanded several months ago, and the church is becoming a music and arts center. Its pews will be removed and replaced with individual seats. Musicians will perform where sermons once echoed.

A New Chapter

However, before the transformation is finished, the church must address the cremains of about 20 former congregation members stored in a columbarium on the side of the church. The church’s by-laws require that the ashes be respectfully removed with the congregation dispersing. Richard White and a few other members have taken on the task of tracking down family members and finding new resting places for the deceased.

The church closed due to declining membership and rising costs. Even after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, membership steadily declined, with the church continuing to offer free recordings of services to those who didn’t want to attend in person. Dealing with the cremains is both a bureaucratic task and a meaningful commemoration of the place and people they loved.

Respecting the Past

The team has found family members for multiple remains, with some urns already set to move to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge. They’ve created a color-coded organizational system to track the process. The columbarium will eventually be removed, exposing the original brick. The men’s journey has also uncovered stories of the church itself, which they say has been invaluable.

Jeff Harms, now the president of the St. Paul Center for Music and Arts, wants the space to be a community hub. From concerts to events to music practice space, it will still be a place to gather. The center had its first concert in June, and they have 20 concerts scheduled. A different church will use the space on Sunday mornings, paying a monthly fee.

Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.