Former Vandergrift church transformed into new public venue
A former church sanctuary has been transformed into a public event center in Vandergrift.
After years of sitting dormant, the worship area of the former Trinity United Presbyterian Church has been transformed by owner Chloe Kruse into a multipurpose rental venue.
“There hasn’t been a congregation here in more than 20 years,” Kruse said.
Kruse removed most of the more than 200 pews, selling the majority of them and keeping about a dozen for seating.
“It was a big project just getting all of the pews out of here,” Kruse said.
Bookings are available for The Sanctuary on Franklin, and Kruse hopes the space will be used for parties of all kinds.
“I want to reach out to individuals that just want to throw a party or celebrate something — retirement, birthday, baby and bridal showers, kids’ events, wedding receptions or weddings,” she said.
Kruse owns and operates The Center on Franklin, a youth multipurpose space occupying the remainder of the former church, for education, play, special events, day camps and social events.
Kruse said she has little information on the history of the church, which was built in 1897 and originally named First United Presbyterian Church.
Stained-glass windows flank both sides and offer a reminder of the religious role the building once served.
The venue now features custom woodwork, high ceilings, a stage area and colorful murals blending the traditional with the modern.
Vandergrift artist and muralist Alex Chaffins painted two oversized murals on either side of the stage area, which was once the pulpit.
Chaffins decided to pay homage to Kruse as a female business owner in his choice of mural theme.
“I wanted to bring strong and powerful images with it being a woman-owned business. Art is my weapon to combat hate, and I’m thankful to Chloe for giving me the opportunity to display that,” Chaffins said. “It’s awesome the space is now a full venue and available.”
So far, Kruse has booked a birthday party, art shows and music concerts. A sound system, tables and chairs, and a photographer are available for an additional fee.
The space measures 60 feet by 40 feet and includes an on-site kitchen and restrooms downstairs. The building, with a maximum occupancy of 300 people, has heat but no air conditioning.
The cost for a standard one-day rental is $150 for four to six hours. A free public parking lot is available about a block away.
Alcohol is permitted on-site and is BYOB.
Kruse said she has booked a wedding reception for this summer, and a local wrestling team plans to rent the space for an indoor meet.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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