After purpose-driven renovations, Bridgewater church given new life

BRIDGEWATER ― People have noticed the stunning transformation outside the former Bridgewater United Methodist Church.

Time-faded yellow bricks are now painted an attractive and soothing blue-gray "morning fog" color, as black window trim provides a sharp, aesthetically pleasing contrast.

Passersby have wondered aloud, what's going on inside.

Is a new church arising? Is someone building more condos in Bridgewater? Or a brewery?

Far from it.

After 16 months of painstaking, purpose-driven work, owner Anthony Ellis is ready to invite the public inside to see what he's planning.

On May 4, Ellis hosts an open house at His Place, a Christian fellowship hall that's slowly, steadily taking shape.

"We invite you to stand with us as we strive to create a brighter future for those in our community," Ellis wrote on the flier for the 4 p.m. His Place event that will include food, fellowship and a live performance by local Christian band The Gathering.

Ellis will offer tours of the 117-year-old structure he and his helpers extensively renovated.

His Place/His calling

Ellis makes it clear; he felt a God-given calling to transform the idle church building that went up for sale in 2021, at one point purchased and owned temporarily by a developer who had planned to tear it down to put up more river-view condos.

"And then it went back on the market," said Ellis, who envisioned a different purpose, one he acknowledges he hasn't fleshed out fully yet, except he believes the structure needs to be some sort of Christian-minded fellowship hall.

The symbolically chosen name: His Place.

"It's going to be a learning process," Ellis, an Army veteran stationed in the Iraq War in 2004-05, said. "I've been a contractor going on 16 years and this is a step for me, and faith."

He bought the brick structure in December 2022, and within a few days began tackling the first major challenge, repairing a leaky roof. Replastering the walls and exposing stately beams followed.

"This place was torn up. Railings were missing, doors were missing. It had been ready for demo," he said.

For the next year, the 40-year-old New Brighton native set aside his contracting business and focused on restoring the church structure to its past glory.

Ellis removed two drop ceilings to give a grander view of the still-functioning bell tower. A dozen stained-glass windows carefully were re-shined, and the former pulpit area was recast as a stage where Christian music bands could perform.

Ellis took century-old wood he'd been saving for just the right occasion, using his cutting and lacquering skills to create tables and shelves. He repurposed old doors as restroom stalls in lavatories that are an eye-pleasing mix of modern and vintage.

He set up tables and chairs offering ample seating for group meetings. There's equally sizable space for food prep.

To imbibe the mission behind it all, a local artist has painted several of the interior walls to show both Bridgewater scenes, including a depiction of the church's original look, and Biblical scenes, such as the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus Calming the Storm, and the Calvary.

On the upstairs floor, Ellis crafted a primary bedroom, bedrooms for his daughters, a parental suite and a guest room.

Daughters Lucia and Mia enjoy riding bikes in Bridgewater, playing in the neighborhood park and visiting Bruster's Real Ice Cream.

"It's been quite a personal journey; a family journey," Ellis, who is divorced, said.

His vision and purpose propel him.

"It's important to be able to share the Gospel in a different way and just bring people together. We are so divided," he said. "So divided. Everybody over everything. You name it. Race, religion, creed, politics, vaccine or not. And it's getting crazier by the day."

In the building's cavernous basement lie more restroom facilities, vast storage space and an area with tables, chairs and a kitchen area for which he has a longer-term vision. It just needs some Biblical scenes or Scripture painted on the walls, and some kitchen equipment, Ellis said.

"I could see this as like a Christian bar or coffee shop. Alcohol-free. I want the whole place to be that," Ellis said. "I've been sober for quite some time. I know a lot of people who need a place like that. I'm not taking business from any of these (Bridgewater taverns), I want a different crowd."

Again, that's part of the vision that still would need to come more fully in focus.

For now, starting with the open house − not a grand opening − for people to see his progress and the building's potential, while welcoming any donations or tangible support.

"Why I wanted to have this in May was to get rid of all the rumors," Ellis said. "(People have asked) 'What's it going to be? What are you doing? Who's going to be the pastor? Is it going to be a brewery? Is it going to be this or that?'

"It's my house right now," he said. "God blessed me with a beautiful home down by the river. And I want to be able to share it."

He's sensed divine intervention amid his renovation journey.

"God's direction is guiding me," Ellis said.

For months, he kept looking at a section of interior wall trim where a big chunk was missing, pondering how to fix it. Then someone donated an old historical photo of Bridgewater that filled in that missing chunk perfectly.

"I didn't even have to cut it," he said. "Just the people, the timing, the materials have been right there when I need them."

Beaver County's best-known commercial painter, rocker Rick Granati, volunteered to help paint some of the exterior using his bucket truck to reach some high spots.

"And we had help and volunteers throughout," Ellis said.

Bridgewater resident Roger Morrow kept noticing the painting and renovation work, and with curiosity rising popped by and introduced himself to Ellis, who laid out his vision for a Christian fellowship gathering place. Now Morrow is among those volunteers helping there with administrative work.

"It's just like a giant canvas. And everyone who comes in here says, 'Hey, can my group do this? And 'can we help with that?'" Morrow said. "This is literally going to be a community center created by the community under the umbrella of Anthony's vision."

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Former Bridgewater United Methodist Church transformed as His Place