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Church on the Rock has purchased a second building on Olive Street within a two-month span. Church officials are working on plans for moving the church from College Street to the new location.
In November, the church purchased the Princess Theater at an auction. In the past week, the deal for the church to purchase the building adjacent to the theater came to fruition.
The Houn’ Dawg Flea Market closed on December 31 after 28 years at the site. Robert Mattingly, pastor of Church on the Rock, noted Tom and Linda Rauch had been most pleasant in the process of selling the building.
Mattingly said work is under way to open up the theater and “restore it to its original glory.” Plans call for making the facility available for school theatrical programs, local pageants, chamber of commerce events, etc. He noted he would even like to see a community theater formed among area churches.
The pastor said the marquee will be repaired and will still feature the familiar flashing lights.
While the church owns land on the west side of Aurora adjacent to Business 60, he said the current economic situation makes refurbishing a building more practical than building a structure from the ground up. Now, the church owns about 18,000 square feet at a cost of $99,000.
Mattingly said his goal is to move the church to the new location this summer.
“The church will bring life to downtown and possibly entice more businesses,” said Mattingly.
Plans for the move include an open house on a Saturday so the community can see the project before the first Sunday service.
The local Church on the Rock is part of an international organization of 4,000 churches. The non-denominational organization started in the 1970s in Dallas, Texas.
Mattingly is assisted by his wife, Gayle, a co-pastor, and Maurice Reed, the executive pastor, who tends to the daily work of the local church.
Church on the Rock has purchased a second building on Olive Street within a two-month span. Church officials are working on plans for moving the church from College Street to the new location.
In November, the church purchased the Princess Theater at an auction. In the past week, the deal for the church to purchase the building adjacent to the theater came to fruition.
The Houn’ Dawg Flea Market closed on December 31 after 28 years at the site. Robert Mattingly, pastor of Church on the Rock, noted Tom and Linda Rauch had been most pleasant in the process of selling the building.
Mattingly said work is under way to open up the theater and “restore it to its original glory.” Plans call for making the facility available for school theatrical programs, local pageants, chamber of commerce events, etc. He noted he would even like to see a community theater formed among area churches.
The pastor said the marquee will be repaired and will still feature the familiar flashing lights.
While the church owns land on the west side of Aurora adjacent to Business 60, he said the current economic situation makes refurbishing a building more practical than building a structure from the ground up. Now, the church owns about 18,000 square feet at a cost of $99,000.
Mattingly said his goal is to move the church to the new location this summer.
“The church will bring life to downtown and possibly entice more businesses,” said Mattingly.
Plans for the move include an open house on a Saturday so the community can see the project before the first Sunday service.
The local Church on the Rock is part of an international organization of 4,000 churches. The non-denominational organization started in the 1970s in Dallas, Texas.
Mattingly is assisted by his wife, Gayle, a co-pastor, and Maurice Reed, the executive pastor, who tends to the daily work of the local church.
