Rock church in Coulee Dam may get new owner

The Almira Community Church may become the new owner of the formerly Presbyterian Coulee Dam Community Church in Coulee Dam.

Jerry Kennedy, who sits on the Presbyterian advisory committee, said last Tuesday that the current owners of the church are willing to gift it to the Almira Community Church.

"They have all the resources that we needed, but didn't have," said Kennedy, who attended church there.

Almira Community Church Pastor Paul McArthur said last Thursday that his church looks forward to a second campus.

"We are waiting for some final figures on what it would cost to repair or replace the roof there," McArthur stated. "I know there are some leaks, and we need to address that."

The Almira church has two retired pastors and a fairly large and thriving congregation. They have indicated they would like to take over the large stone church.

"The Presbyterians have been wonderful to work with," McArthur stated. "Some of our congregation came down to the church May 22, and met with a number of people who had been attending the church. We had a good time."

The Almira church is non-denominational, and McArthur has been pastor there for nine years.

Some 110-120 regularly attend the church in Almira, and its Sunday school runs about the same.

Kennedy said that the advisory committee hadn't received any offers to purchase the property.

Any entity that acquires the large stone church will be faced with the need to put a new roof over part of the building.

Kennedy said the congregation in Almira will vote on the issue June 12.

Representatives from the Almira church had made a presentation to the Presbyterian advisory committee recently, indicating an interest in developing a second campus.