Saving A Historic Church

A group is looking to restore it to its former glory.

Student.

Save historic church-stinger-2 gathering to save a historic house of worship.

That's what one group is doing in mason city.

Live kimt news 3's alex jirgens is live in mason city - alex why is this church so unique?

Alex?xxx save historic church-live vo-2 katie - what originally started as a mostly african - american church - the congregation here at st.

John's baptist church had an impact here in this once ethnically diverse neighborhood - and around the community.

But the church here on 6th street southwest has sat largely empty since services stopped here in 19-96.

Now - a group is looking to restore it to its former restore historic church mason city, ia the plans are for the upstairs to be a chapel and community center.

It will also have an area to display the house of worship's rich history.

The basement would be renovated to house the offices of al-yad - but all of this can't happen without volunteers - and donations.xxx save historic church-live sot-1 "i think it's important to preserve any kind of history for our children to view.

Anything positive that we can put in today's society is extremely important."

Save historic church-live sot-3 while the church itself was established in 19-19 - congregation met in various homes and a labor hall before buying a house on this site here in 19-26.

Then - a basement was dug for services before the current building here was built consisting of materials from the old grant school in 19-37 live in mason city- alex jirgens kimt news 3 thank you alex.

Renovations are estimated to be a couple hundred thousand dollars.

If you want to get involved - we'll have the details under this story on our website