St. Luke United Methodist Church

Walhalla, SC

On the first anniversary of the fire that destroyed their historic sanctuary, St. Luke UMC held a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction of a new 200 seat sanctuary. The sanctuary features a bell tower that displays the bell and cross from the original sanctuary, providing a landmark to the community. The project relocated the parsonage to a more appropriate location to allow the new sanctuary to be the focal point of the site. The sanctuary was designed with exposed glulam trusses, stained wood paneling behind the altar, and a balcony that also contains the AV control area. The original stained glass windows were framed and re-hung inside new sanctuary windows. The design recalls the historic nature and intimate feeling of the original building while providing improved lighting, circulation, restrooms and other elements.