The really architecturally beautiful ones could be used as restaurants or converted into affordable housing. The ones in strip malls could be used as bars, or brothels, or something else that's more useful.

I'm completely with the homeless shelter idea previously stated, but if that wasn't viable for some crazy reason, I'd want them to be dance halls and music venues, I like the idea of loads of 4 piece bands playing rock and roll, with people doing the twist and jiving all day long, I'd never get bored of that.

There were a few large churches up for sale in Chicago a few years ago. I thought they would make fantastic homeless shelters. Especially in Winter.

They could be easily used as insane asylums for those still hanging on to the disease while religion is dying out. Then, we could turn a few into hate museums where they cover the atrocious activities of the past and with religion being dead, people would likely be a little more rational and we could figure out a way to make sure there are no longer any homeless people.

Interesting. The very first thing I thought of was for homeless shelters, before I read any comments.

Bullshit Museums.

How about converting them in shelters or apartments for the homeless? Then they would serve a useful purpose.

I was reared Catholic and there are several Catholic churches around this rural area. Attendance is way down. One church is no longer used. Another two have scaled back services significantly. The church continues to hoard the property, tax free. I think it's a long, long time before we see these buildings and plots sold off.

I'd turn most into shelters and community centers for poor and less fortunate people. When there are more churches than homeless shelters, it's a truly sad state of affairs. Something that benefits everyone, don't care what it is.

We wouldn't. Realtors would. What we need to figure out is how we will repurpose the voice of the church. Or better stated.. uncorrupt it.

I am a boomer. When the boomers were school age, schools were built. When the baby bust followed, school districts sold schools. The elementary school my former husband went to was bought by a church. Real estate never lies around, it will be bought and re purposed. There is no lack of demand for space. They might lose some money but I don't see that as being a concern.

Bars. Strip clubs. Haunted attractions. Casinos.

Don't reuse them there tainted burn them down. Actually that is the correct way to destroy something spiritual or holy/sacred. And if not I would turn them into business or meeting halls, dance halls, or they can be used as auditoriums, homeless shelter, private atheist schools, science labs ooooooooohhhhhh a Dojo you can fit a pretty nice mat in most churches. just some ideas i could go on for ever. But I would want to burn one down.

24 hr. hotdogs and pancakes stop.

Having both done, and attended numerous concerts in various church buildings - I'd say they make dandy concert halls. Especially the old ones with cathedral ceilings !

Or meeting houses, or dance halls !

I also knew a couple that bought a small old church, and made it their home. They put their bedroom up on the alter. Brilliant !

I've always wanted to live in a small old church. I love the architecture. And I would remake the sign to say "HOUSE OF IRONY. A private residence.

Community space for education (not just primary learning, but life skills and hobbies/crafting/making), crèches, homeless/food centers, libraries, meeting space, lectures, events.

This is a little off subject, yet I'll add this anyway. There is a show that aired on the History Channel some years back about "Dixie", ie. the southeastern states. One fact that stuck with me is there are more churches per capita in Dixie than in any other region of the US! I thought of converting the old churches to theaters for plays.

Pretty sure based on what I know about churches I'm pretty sure they'd start selling condos and discriminate against their constituents.

The church I was taken to when I was young , got turned into an apartment complex . I now actually live in the same neighborhood now . My dad's parents lived "directly" across from it .

id love one as a house

Homeless shelters!

performing arts centers, museums and homeless shelters. Great acoustics, historical significance and lots of warm dry floor space.

Lecture halls; schools

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This church in Dayton, Ohio was converted to a climbing center.