What’s God Doing in the Village?

Written by Rev. John Hughes, published in the Conway Daily Sun on November 22, 2023.

Matt Tonning is a full-time firefighter from Rhode Island who, along with his brother Bob, a Civil Engineer, develops rental properties. The former Methodist Church at 121 Main Street in Conway Village is an example of their work and philosophy. “Bob is the Pencil, and I am the Hammer”, Matt quipped.

It is the second church property Matt and his brother have renovated, the first being on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls.

When the architect/engineer they were using came to Conway Village, he suggested dropping down the inner ceiling of the former sanctuary, but the brothers were against the idea, even though it would have doubled the available floor space.

“We wanted to maintain the space with its stained-glass windows and leave the exterior of the building as unchanged as possible.” Matt said, adding “It’s an iconic building which no longer serves its original purpose, so we wanted to preserve its past while creating a new future for it.”

The property now generates property taxes for the Town of Conway and short-term-rental taxes for the State of New Hampshire, whereas the previous property was tax exempt.

Recently, Lou Woodland, a retired veteran from Eugene, Oregon, rented one of the units, a five-bed, three-bath addition with his wife, sister-in-law, and daughter. They came because he said, “We like to stay in unusual buildings. We are celebrating my recovery from surgery and came for shopping, hiking, and touring the area. We don’t get the fall colors (leaves) you get here – – we don’t get the oranges and reds in Oregon.”, Lou added.

Sue Davidson, who was once the pastor of the church, likes what the brothers have done with the renovation. She said, “The stained-glass windows at the front of the church, which she hand-crafted, were dedicated in memory of her father, Clarence Gibboney, at a Sunday worship service in 1995. “I like the concept the brothers used, how they preserved things.” Sue reflected. When the early morning light floods the living room with colored light from the church windows, there is a special feeling to the space, which displays former church signs, documents, crosses, and memorabilia found during renovation. The brothers kept the original, two-tone paint scheme for the walls.

So, while the building now hosts two kitchens and several modernizations, the feel of “sacred space” still is prevalent.

Beverly Taylor remembers singing in the Methodist choir when she first came to Conway in 2009.

After several years, Cynthia Saxby, a member of the Music Committee of the Brown Church, asked if she’d be willing to do a solo for a special choir performance. After her solo, the Brown Church organist, Roger Miklos, asked if she’d be willing to join the church choir. So, until the Methodist Church was dis- banded in 2013, Beverly walked between the churches for two years in order to sing in both choirs. “I have such fond memories of the old Methodist Church”, Beverly said.

So one might ask “What is God doing here?” in the village. Where there were once three churches on Conway Village’s Main Street – including a Catholic Sanctuary now owned by the Conway Historical Society and rented to a cCharter school, and the newly renovated former Methodist Church, now a long- term and short-term rental property – there is only one remaining active faith community, the Conway Village Congregational Church (the Brown Church).

The Pew Research Foundation notes that in the U.S. each year, between 6,700–10,000 churches close their doors.

The recent book, “The Great Dechurching”, written by Jim Davis and Michael Graham with Ryan Burge, maintains that contemporary American life does not promote mutuality, religious/spiritual values, or a sense of the common good. What secular America promotes, the authors maintain, is radical individualism and consumerism. The promotion of individual accomplishment and financial success often leaves issues of common life and community involvement overlooked and undersupported.

If the studies are true, and the trend continues, what will happen to the 130–160 meals received at The Dinner Bell which is supported by the Brown Church? What will happen to the Food Pantry which serves not only people in cars (some clients living in them) but also walk-ins with no transportation?

Where will the homeless of the Village find their support? Where will people turn for confidential guid- ance?

Lacking the community support for our churches, will the 35-plus years of Dinner Bell and 40-plus years of battling food insecurity come to an end? Is the social fabric of our Village being altered? It is a question worth pondering.

Meanwhile, the Tonning families still hold several weeks of time free from rental for their own celebrations.

“My birthday, July 7^th, brought us to Conway for the July 4^th celebration.” Matt Tonning told me. “My daughters (aged 7 and 9), set up a lemonade stand for the parade – people were so generous and welcoming to them. We then took the Scenic Railroad to see the fireworks and we are excited to take the Polar Express this winter. My girls are looking forward to ski lessons at King Pine.

I am so grateful for The Station Bistro, as I am on a plant-based diet,” Matt continued.

Of the renovation, he said “We love old churches, their grandeur, their architecture. We hope what we’ve done here will be enjoyed by our families, and our renters, for years to come.”

Rev John Hughes, is Pastor of the Brown Church in Conway Village, “devoting ourselves to the health of the body, mind, and spirit in the Mt. Washington Valley.”