Redeemer Presbyterian Church at 43 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC must raise $1.6 million by Sept. 11, or the original deal to sell the historic property to Charleston businesswoman Nancy Snowden will be back in place.  (Editor’s Note:  Redeemer is a PCA congregation; Senior Pastor is Craig Bailey.)

It wasn’t exactly divine intervention, but Redeemer Presbyterian Church will get two months to match a $1.6 million offer for its historic church home on Wentworth Street.

If Redeemer can pull off the deal, then the historic Greek Revival church won’t be converted into a residence after all.

Charleston City Council was set to reconsider a zoning variance Tuesday that allows the sanctuary and adjoining educational building to accommodate a mix of residential and office use.

Council members later said that vote appeared to be shaping up as a 6-6 tie, with Mayor Joe Riley poised to cast the deciding vote. But the motion never made it to the floor because of a compromise negotiated just before the meeting.

Charleston businesswoman Nancy Snowden, who had a contract to buy the church and who received the variance to convert the property, agreed to step back and give the Redeemer congregation a chance to match her deal.

The 43 Wentworth St. property had been a Methodist Church for more than a century, and it still is owned by the successor church to St. Andrew’s Lutheran, whose congregation moved from downtown to West Ashley in 2006.

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Following News Item from Redeemer’s web site posted July 18 by staff member Gray Morgan

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Great news from the City Council meeting this evening! We did not have to bring the church-zoning issue to a vote, because Nancy Snowden agreed to step back to give us some time to raise funds to purchase the church. And Mayor Riley will be helping–which is huge! He spoke eloquently about the church and how important it is to keep it in its current use for generations to come.

The agreement to delay the vote came late today, and we tried to catch you before you were heading to City Hall, but I know we missed some of you. Sorry.

We expect to kick off the city-wide fundraising campaign later this week. And will be working out the timeframe in which to raise funds (probably 90 days) with the Lutherans. With the Mayor’s help, we can succeed!

Thank you all for your fervent prayers, emails, and calls to our city’s leaders. They made all the difference!

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