This church turned family residence was designed by Bruce Wardell as a home for his family. For Mr. Wardell, the relationship between the sacred functions at a church and the secular functions of his family home was clear: Mt. Paran was not just to be a home for his family, but also a place for him and his wife to lead home groups and the college ministry at their church. For Mr. Wardell, the conversion extended the life of the church building and provided his family a home built with a level of detail and craftsmanship that is not often found in todays homes. Equally exciting in this conversion was the possibility to create a dialogue between the historic craft and texture of the original building and the new work. The church structure also provided a unique opportunity to design facilities in spaces that would not normally be created. The church cum home is primarily a 32 foot wide, 40 foot long, and 16 foot high single space with a tin roof. Within the historic church structure, Mr. Wardell designed a modern pavillion.

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more on this project
New Life for Old Churches - The Christian Science Monitor 5/11/05
Church Home is Where Family Congregates - The Daily Progress(.pdf)
"Mount Paran: A room with a pew" - The Hook 8/10/06
Born-again sanctuary - Former Greene County church transformed into family home - Richmond Times - Dispatch, 3/24/07