There are no winners or losers in the recent church closings by the Buffalo Diocese of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church isn’t the only denomination struggling under the weight of declining membership, rising costs and, in the Catholic Church’s case, Child Victims Act lawsuits. The Methodists have been closing and merging churches for years, as have the Lutherans. It’s all an unfortunate reflection of changing social values and our region’s declining population.

Our question, moving forward, is what happens with Ss. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church when the congregation eventually joins with St. John Roman Catholic Church next year. The Ss. Peter and Paul building is one of the oldest buildings in Jamestown and certainly one of the most architecturally interesting. Those interested in preserving the city’s history have to be concerned over the building’s future.

There aren’t many modern uses for a Gothic-style church built in the 1800s. The cost to update the interior of the church to suit modern needs is likely to be expensive, and extensive interior renovation would also change the historic character of the beautiful old church.

Some churches that have closed become home to another, usually non denominational church. That would probably be the best path for the Ss. Peter and Paul building. That happened with Conduit Ministries when it purchased the former New Heights United Methodist Church building on Newland Avenue. Others, like the former First Congregational Church on Third Street, have found new life as the Spire Theater. Those are success stories. Not all closed churches are so lucky. Some fall into disrepair and are eventually torn down.

We obviously hope that doesn’t happen to Ss. Peter and Paul’s building in the coming years. We hope someone with vision steps forward to both preserve the building and breathe new life into a beautiful piece of Jamestown’s history.