United Methodist church properties head to auction
Two local United Methodist church properties will be offered for sale at auction this month, following parish closures due to members growing older and dwindling in number.
The East End United Methodist Church property, which comprises a building with a sanctuary, school, fellowship hall and basement, a parsonage and detached garage plus a large parking lot nearby, will be auctioned at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 25, by Michael T. Roan Real Estate of Williamsport, who has sold 26 former United Methodist Church properties for the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodists since 2019.
The Canoe Creek United Methodist church building and parking lot on Route 22 across from one edge of Canoe Creek State Park will be auctioned at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18.
The East End buildings on East Hudson Avenue at East Street and the parking lot across the avenue will be sold all together, for a minimum of $80,000, according to Roan.
The Canoe Creek property will be sold for a minimum of $25,000.
All the buildings involved are brick.
Prospective buyers can view the properties online at roanrealestate.com or by arranging a visit with Roan by calling 570-419-0380.
A mold problem that was part of the impetus for closing the East End church in December has largely abated, according to Roan.
“Come in and take a look: decide for yourself,” he said rhetorically to anyone interested in that property.
The East End property is zoned residential, single household.
The church was built in 1903, the attached school in 1953, and the parsonage in 1900, according to the real estate listing.
The church building is 20,000 square feet, while the parsonage is 1,600 square feet.
The property is connected to public water and sewer.
It would be suitable to host a church congregation again, Roan said.
The one-acre Canoe Creek property in Frankstown Township is zoned for manufacturing and farming.
Built in 1921, the church closed in March.
It is 1,400 square feet.
The property has no water or sewer service, but is equipped with an outhouse, Roan said.
If a new owner got permission for a holding tank, the property would be suitable for conversion to a single-family home, Roan said.
Based on his experience in real estate, Roan assigns a minimum bid price lower than what he hopes the property will fetch, wishing to create motivation for bidding competitiveness.
Zoning limitations play a large role in the price he assigns.
Most of the churches that Roan has sold had congregations that shrank an average of about 50% after COVID shutdowns were lifted, he said.
The shutdowns were the “nail in the coffin” for those parishes, Roan said.
The auctions will be held at the respective church properties.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.