The multi-purpose building of the First Baptist Church on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro might need to be sold by the dwindling congregation.
At an informational meeting on Nov. 23, the church members were made aware of this possibility because of rising costs and limited resources.
The neo-gothic design building, built in 1867, with subsequent renovations and additions, serves the Brattleboro community not only as a place for worship - including ecumenical and interfaith services, for weddings, and for funerals - but also as a location for concerts, for the winter overnight overflow shelter for homeless people, and for warm and nutritious meals.
It offers a meeting place for daily Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings, office and counseling rooms for the Brattleboro Pastoral Counseling Center, and most recently a facility for the Inclusion Center, serving the needs of persons with disabilities.