Sacred spaces become modern places as churches get second lives

Developers are reimagining Canadian churches – with their historic architecture and stained-glass windows – by turning them into vibrant, modern spaces to live, work and play.

Converting churches into contemporary urban buildings comes as attendance declines in Canada, with reduced revenue for upkeep. The trend mirrors a similar movement in the United States, where property developers have scooped up old churches and repurposed them into modern architectural wonders with a variety of uses – from microbrew pubs to boutique hotels and more.