"At its height, Church for Today founded in 1957 by theologian, educator, and music promoter the Rev. William Hazaiah Williams, Jr. was a sonically vibrant, multiracial hub in Northwest Berkeley. The church's long-running concert series showcased Black opera stars and classical musicians. In the 1970s, a young Barbara Lee, now mayor of Oakland, had a spiritual and ethical awakening in its pews. Later, in the 1990s, church leaders were charged with fraudulently using money taken in for the concert series toward personal expenses."
"Now, Church for Today's longtime building is set to be knocked down, making way for a trio of single-family homes. A firm tied to Bay Area developers Joey and Peter Consos purchased the property in December for $1.05 million and intends to raze the church building at 1449 Cornell Ave. Many Bay Area churches have undergone transitions in recent years, as skyrocketing housing costs remake neighborhoods and religiosity declines."
Church for Today began in 1957 under the Rev. William Hazaiah Williams Jr. as a sonically vibrant, multiracial hub in Northwest Berkeley with a long-running concert series featuring Black opera stars and classical musicians. The congregation later faced fraud charges in the 1990s related to concert-series funds. The longtime building at 1449 Cornell Ave. sold in December for $1.05 million to a firm tied to developers Joey and Peter Consos, who plan to raze it for three single-family homes. Pastor William Kruse has led since 1999; the congregation now has about 20 regular members and no regular meeting place. Several Bay Area churches are being repurposed amid high housing costs and declining religiosity, including conversions to roller rinks, art galleries, residences, and affordable housing projects.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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