STUART, IA -- The Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance and Project Restore, a group trying to save the All Saints Byzantine church in Stuart, have announced a statewide conference to explore how changes in religion affect churches, neighborhoods and communities.
"Historic churches are being closed at an alarming rate in Iowa and around the nation. Many have already been demolished," said Joyce Barrett, executive director of the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance.
During the one-day conference, experts in the field of religious and historic architecture, worship, city planning and sociology will explore the forces of change in religion and discuss some solutions in dealing with unused church property and the impact on Iowa's communities and heritage.
The conference will be held at the high school in Stuart, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on November 1. A $25 registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Marilyn Chiat of The Center for Documentation and Preservation of Places of Worship, which is an affiliate of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in the Minnesota-Dakotas region. Dr. Chiat is an expert in the history of church buildings and has written several books on the subject, including the newly published, "America's Religious Architecture: Sacred Places for Every Community."
"This really is a first-class conference and the first that we know of in Iowa to address the subject of such growing concern around the country," said Cooper Norman, Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance president.
For more information about the conference call 830-1493. This project was partially supported through funding from the Resource Enhancement Program (REAP) Act through a Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) Grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa.
NOTE: Conference Brochure is now on line! Click here for details!