From church bells to wedding bells — that was CJ Estel’s vision for Sacred Heart Church in East Toledo.
Through community partners and investors, he had hoped to repair and transform the former Catholic church into a wedding and event venue.
But the Diocese of Toledo announced Sunday its decision to decline Mr. Estel’s offer and to follow through with its initial plan to demolish the church.
“After careful and prayerful consideration, Epiphany of the Lord Parish … with the support of the Diocese, intends to move forward with the original plan,” wrote Bishop Daniel Thomas in an op-ed published Sunday.
His letter outlines considerations that contributed to the decision, including that Mr. Estel’s offer of $1, which the investor sent to the diocese Dec. 27, did not include the required proposals regarding how the building would be used and how it would be maintained and repaired.
Bishop Thomas relegated or deconsecrated the church, which was in need of an estimated $1.5 million in repairs, in October and Masses have not been celebrated there since Jan. 6. Only two of the six original Catholic churches in East Toledo remain, and they comprise Epiphany of the Lord Parish.