The chapel of the Cadiz Baptist Church will come down this week with a new building to take its place at some point in the future.
Church officials closed off the 120-year-old building during the pandemic with the power and electricity cut earlier this year.
Safety fencing was placed around the perimeter of the building last week with Naas and Sons of Evansville contacted to do the demolition.
Church officials said about eight years ago, a committee was formed to decide the chapel’s future after it fell into disrepair. A wooden brace had been placed against the west wall in the chapel to help keep the building intact.
Although not unanimous, the church decided the building needed to be shuttered instead of absorbing the $3 million plus price to correct, restore, and make it structurally sound both inside and out.
Doc’s Archeological Salvage of Springfield, Tennessee was enlisted by the church to remove the stained-glass windows and fixtures from the chapel.
Cadiz Baptist Church Christian Academy is located in the office building between the new and old sanctuary. Church officials were hoping to begin demolition when its classes weren’t in session.
In June, the church announced a celebration service to remember the chapel, which was built in 1903 by James Bowling of Nashville for $9,785. That translates to $333,000 in today’s money.
Two additions were made to the chapel in the 1950s for Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall for $74,000.
In 1984, the education building was renovated to add carpeting and new windows. It housed Sunday school rooms, church offices, and a library.
A new sanctuary was built just up the hill from the chapel in 1976. Since then, the chapel hosted weddings, and youth group meetings, and in the summer of 2006, hosted a historical Sunday night service series with the Cadiz Christian Church, Cadiz Church of Christ, and the Cadiz United Methodist Church.
The Cadiz Christian Church was built in 1893 and is still in service, making it one of the oldest buildings still in use in the downtown district. Other multiple-story buildings that line Main Street were built between 1902 and 1906.
Church officials said they will look at the property once demolition is complete and build a facility that will meet the needs of the church and the community. It will also likely house the church offices and fellowship area.
The church also plans to save 500 bricks from the chapel for commemorative purposes or to incorporate into the new building.
