Quake-Damaged Church Votes to Rebuild

Having collected nearly $70,000 in earthquake-relief donations, the small Congregational Church of Chatsworth has decided to repair its damaged building rather than close down.

“We would really miss the people we’ve known for so long,” said Darlene Libby, moderator, or lay leader, of the 51-member congregation, in explaining members’ unanimous vote Sunday to stay. She and her husband have been members for 30 years, she said.

With a $30,000 grant from the Southern California headquarters of its denomination, the United Church of Christ, and $39,000 donated by individuals and churches around the country, the already financially struggling church had the choice between rebuilding or razing the structure and selling the land.

The Jan. 17 earthquake shattered most windows and ruptured the connections between the church roof and the 40-foot sanctuary walls. One wall is being propped up from the inside by large beams, said Marv Davis, a member of the rebuilding committee.

“We have a low estimate of $70,000 and a high estimate of $100,000 to repair the church,” said Davis, a founding member of the congregation in 1958. The cost may be on the high side if electrical lines embedded in the roof were damaged.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Davis, who lives in Chatsworth. In addition to the repairs, the church still owes debts for an addition built on the preschool building a few years ago, he said.

The decision to repair the church was good news for the Valley So-Mang Presbyterian Church, a Korean-American congregation that rents space there, and a thriving preschool operation that serves as many as 90 children. Meanwhile, all worship services are held in the preschool building on the church property at 20440 Lassen St.

The Rev. Jeff Utter, the congregation’s pastor for only a year, volunteered to take a 20% pay cut this spring but the church voted to pay his full salary.

“I think it helps a lot that our minister has such a warm personality and ideas on how to bring in younger people,” said Libby.

“Most members are 60 (years old) plus,” said Gigi Pircher, who sent her child to the preschool and then joined the church. “It’s a wonderful school, and I think it’s great the congregation voted to keep going.”