Church of Scientology Nashville opened its doors to preservationists. Respect for the history and traditions of its buildings is part and parcel of the planning and renovation of Ideal Scientology Organizations.
Nashville, T, April 28, 2016 (Newswire.com) - The Nashville Church of Scientology was honored to host 40 members of Historic Nashville, Inc. for a tour of its Church. Historic Nashville, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and preserve the historic places that make Nashville unique, and the Church’s home, the former Fall School building, certainly fits this description.
Built in 1898 in a similar style to the legendary Ryman Auditorium, the 36,000-square-foot Fall School building is a historic landmark. It served as a public school until 1970 and in 2007 the Church purchased the building and meticulously restored it, preserving its original features, such as:
"This church isn't just our home in Nashville, it is a building for the community, and it is a Nashville institution. This is why it is so important to us to keep it preserved for the future."
Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville
· Its distinctive dark red brick exterior and arched windows,
· Two stained-glass pocket doors that were discovered in the renovation process. They had been concealed behind the walls for nearly a century,
· Original hardwood floors, doors and stairwells,
· Eight solid wood pillars capped with iron,
· The central three-story atrium that these pillars support.
The Church has earned a reputation as a leader in adaptive reuse—the repurposing of an old site or building for a use other than which it was built or designed to be. And as with the Nashville Church, in many cases these properties have historic significance. For example, the Church of Scientology of Buffalo in the former Catholic Institute Library; the Scientology Center of Tel Aviv in the historic Alhambra Theater in Jaffa; the Church of Scientology Orange County, California, in the Santa Ana Performing Arts & Event Center; the Church of Scientology Sacramento in the historic Sherwood Building; the Church of Scientology Melbourne in the Mercy Teachers’ College, later part of the Catholic University; and the Church of Scientology Padova in the historic Villa Francesconi-Lanza.
Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville, toured Historic Nashville members through the Church. “This church isn’t just our home in Nashville,” he said, “it is a building for the community, and it is a Nashville institution. This is why it is so important to us to keep it preserved for the future.”
Historic Nashville Board Member Connie Gee organized the walk-through. “We are thrilled with the stewardship of the building that the Church has given to this wonderful historic part of Nashville,” she said. “Your attention to detail in keeping the integrity of the architecture and craftsmanship of the building is outstanding. The repurposing of the school has worked very well to keep it alive for years to come.”
Historic Nashville, Inc. has successfully advocated for the preservation of such historic places the Ryman Auditorium, Union Station, Hermitage Hotel, 2nd Avenue & Lower Broadway, and Shelby Street Bridge, as well as neighborhood historic districts throughout the city.
The Church of Scientology Nashville opened April 25, 2009. An Ideal Scientology Organization (Org), it is configured to service Scientologists in their ascent to spiritual freedom and serve as a home for the entire community—a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift citizens of all denominations.
Source: ScientologyNews.org
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