Community has opportunity to shape future of neighborhood church

With membership dwindling and maintenance mounting, the congregation of the Baltimore area’s second-oldest Protestant church made the difficult decision to sell its longtime home.

First and St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ stands on York Road near its intersection with Regester Avenue in the desirable Stoneleigh neighborhood, known for its early 20th-century single-family homes, good schools and winding, tree-lined roads.

Neighbors may have been concerned about the church’s future after the property was listed on the market, but an industrious community member came in with a plan. Longtime Stoneleigh resident and Baltimore County native Steve McIntire purchased the church building and its parsonage from the congregation for $1.1 million, a deal the Baltimore Business Journal first reported.

McIntire aims to recoup his investment and isn’t set on turning a profit if he can get Stoneleigh and possibly some of the surrounding communities to buy in. First, he plans to split off and flip the rectory, the home next door for the church’s pastor.

Then the 50-year-old wants to sell the church itself to the community to be repurposed as a community and perhaps recreation center.

Read full article: Towson resident buys First and St. Stephen’s Church for $1.1 million – The Baltimore Banner