SANDUSKY
Sandusky's Calvary Episcopal Church, First and Meigs streets, is reopening.
Only this time, without a permanent minister or congregation.
Diane and Gary Ackerman, born and raised in Sandusky, will rent "Old Calvary" to people
wanting to have a wedding, baptism or funeral at the church.
The couple is also starting Calvary Foundation to serve children of the working poor.
The first
service project is providing new clothes for 500 Sandusky children, by referral only. "My grandchildren will be the sixth generation to attend here," said Diane Ackerman, who
attended Calvary Episcopal Church and was baptized there.
An invitation-only open house will take place in January. A public open house will be announced
for February.
Calvary Episcopal Church closed in April 2004 because of declining membership and financial
troubles.
Known as the church with "Red Doors," the deteriorating doors have been replaced with plain
wooden ones. The pews and altar are still intact."The red doors are associated with the church being Episcopalian," Ackerman said. "This church
is non-denominational."
A portion of the church's basement has been turned into a community center. The children's
clothing will be in the center, set up like a department store. "I think we can make a difference," she said. "I don't think we can change the world, but I think
we can make a dent in it. There are people who are working like crazy and still don't have extra."
Ackerman declined to say how much she and her husband endowed to start the foundation,
although she said it was "sizable." She also wouldn't divulge the cost of the renovation.
One hundred percent of what is made through renting the church will go toward the maintenance
of the church, as well as to offset the cost of the utilities, she said.
Renting the church for a wedding for instance is $950.
The Ackermans bought the church in May from the diocese for $169,000. Architects, Poulos + Associates, have designed the architectural renovations and additions. Since June, local
contractors have been replacing the roof, installing new carpet and repairing the foundation of the
107-year-old church building. The utilities were also replaced."It was just something I felt I had to do, that is the truth," said Gary Ackerman, who came up
with the idea for the project.
Ackerman is an entrepreneur who works in manufacturing. He visited the church Friday, seeing
for the first time many of the improvements, a bride's and groom's waiting room, and the new
bathrooms."We didn't want to make it a modern church," said Matt Pickworth of Sandusky, who did the
interior design work. "We wanted to restore it the way it used to be."
There were a few exceptions.
A security system and outdoor lighting has been installed. People continue to come by looking
for food as they did when the church was open.
Near the stage in the community room, a "wall of history" will be displayed. Among the items
will be a Bible from 1848 found in the basement, as well as pictures of former church ministers
and old tickets from Swiss steak dinners held at the church.
"We wanted to preserve what the church was," Ackerman said.
Old Calvary
• Location: 701 First St.
• Phone: 419-625-3535
The venue is available for weddings, funerals, baptisms and other events. It is also home to
Calvary Foundation.
