Repurposed St. Louis churches, synagogues find new ways to feed the soul

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis is a town of believers: in traditions, in community and, perhaps most especially, in second chances. That grace is extended to its buildings as well as its people. “St. Louis likes to save old things, not tear old things down,” says Chris Hansen, executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. The nonprofit runs the Grandel, built in 1884 as a First Congregational Church, which now includes a 600-seat theater and the Dark Room, a bar, music venue and gallery. The Grand Center structure is one of dozens of left-for-dead houses of worship across the region that have b...