...The historic Welsh Congregational Church along Elm St. in Youngstown...by R. Michael Semple

YOUNGSTOWN — The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has decided to demolish the former Welsh Congregational Church, the oldest house of worship still standing in the city.

“This has been a very long process with a lot of discussion,” said Justin Huyck, the diocese’s spokesman. “We’ve been working with partners for a long time to develop a viable option, and a viable option hasn’t come forward. The time has come to bring the church down.”

The diocese has been working with officials from the city and Youngstown CityScape for years to have the latter relocate the 161-year-old building on Elm Street, across the street from the diocesan offices.

“The diocese asked CityScape to try to work with the city and other groups to get it moved,” said Scott Schulick, president of the nonprofit community organization’s executive board. “The city could never get its act together. It’s been five or six years. It’s now between the city and the diocese. The diocese has made the decision to demolish it.”

Schulick said of the demolition: “From a historical perspective, it’s disappointing. We’ve been ready, willing and able to facilitate and be a partner.”

The church, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1861. A 1997 fire damaged the building, and it’s been closed ever since, falling into disrepair.

The church is expected to be demolished later this month, Huyck said.

City Law Director Jeff Limbian said the diocese has initiated the demolition process, but hasn’t received a signed permit from Mahoning County.

Also, the demolition would have to be approved by the city’s design review committee before it could occur, Limbian said.

The diocese purchased the church in 2015 with plans to take it down, but agreed two years later to give it to CityScape if the organization could relocate it.

The church is in Councilman Julius Oliver’s ward. He said the city had decided on a location for the building near the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor.

“Oh, well, I tried,” said Oliver, D-1st Ward. “It’s crazy. I’m wondering why it has to be demolished. CityScape and the city found a place. But it’s a new bishop (David Bonnar) with a new vision and no connection to Youngstown, and they’re tearing it down.”

Huyck said: “A viable option wasn’t provided to us for moving the church and funding its refurbishment. We need to make sure we don’t perpetuate blight in the city.”

Over the past few years, the city rejected several of CityScape’s proposed locations for the building, including near the museum on two different occasions. The location the city had chosen is on a different parcel near the museum than the one rejected twice.

CityScape received a $150,000 donation from Roberta Hannay, a Wick family descendant, toward the project that would have covered the move and a new foundation.

The entire project was estimated to cost about $1 million with the building’s top floor being converted to community space and the bottom floor for office space.

“We were willing to do the renovations,” Schulick said. “Except for securing a donor, we haven’t been able to do fundraising because it’s been in limbo.”

During a July 2020 council committee meeting, Schulick stressed the urgency in the city making a decision on the location of the building because further delays would mean its demolition.

Huyck said a final plan for the location once the church is demolished hasn’t been developed by the diocese. Options include additional parking and greenspace, he said.

“All the plans had to be on hold while this was happening,” Huyck said “A lot of good people worked on this for a long time. It didn’t work out.”

He added: “It was our desire when we acquired the property in 2015 to develop the space, eliminate blight and be a good neighbor.”

dskolnick@vindy.com