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Congregation gives away church building

First St. John UCC is giving its historic building to  Princeton Pike Church of God for inner-city ministry.

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By Amanda Seitz, Staff Writer 1:12 AM Thursday, March 18, 2010

HAMILTON — One city congregation is putting the Christian principle of giving into practice in a big way. First St. John United Church of Christ has decided to give its historic 170-year-old building to Princeton Pike Church of God free of charge.

The church on South Front Street in downtown Hamilton will be occupied by Princeton Pike’s Power Source inner-city ministries.

“We started the talks probably about six months so we began to collaborating and sharing thoughts on our ministry vision to reach the inner-city,” said the Rev. Barry Clardy, pastor of Princeton Pike.

Clardy said the congregation will keep its main church location on Princeton Glendale Road in Liberty Twp., but will base its inner-city ministry from downtown Hamilton.

The building became too expensive to maintain for First St. John, but church members did not feel it was appropriate to sell it, said the Rev. Sam Wyatt, pastor of First St. John.

“The congregation voted to relocate to a more affordable place and at the same time find an appropriate ministry that would take over the building,” he said.

“We looked for another church to maintain the building and at the same time a church that had a commitment to the inner-city.

“What we would be doing with them is we would be partnering with them to continue some of our ministries in the building,” said Wyatt.

First St. John’s will not close its doors but relocate to the Partners in Prime building in Hamilton.

“We’re looking forward to starting over in a new location,” Wyatt said. “Most of our members are retired and we don’t have the energy to keep that huge building up.”

Clardy said Princeton Pike is more than grateful for First St. John’s gift.

“I was overwhelmed and at the same time humbled (by) such a generous act,” Clardy said. “We want to continue to honor their legacy, to honor their hard work.”

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