What happens to churches whose religious residents have left? Often, they become a bit more secular. Here are some of the most gorgeous and surprising architectural afterlives for these houses of worship.
St. Jakobus Church, by Zecc Architects, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2007-2009
(via ZECC)
A Selexyz bookstore from a 700-year-old Dominican Church, by Merkx + Girod Architects, Maastricht, Netherlands, 2007
(via Merkx + Girod and OpenBuildings)
Bonney Avenue Residence from an 1867 building, by Willis Greenhalgh Architects, Brisbane, Australia
(via WGArchitects)
A Gothic church built in 1909, overlooking Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco, California
(via Decoist)
Conversion of the late 18th century St. Nicholas Georgian Church, by Kyloe, Northumberland, England
Church of Living, Utrecht, Netherlands, by Zecc Architecten, 2006-2007
(via ZECC)
A former chapel with art-deco interior decoration, but with the original stained glass, Suffolk, UK
(via LocationWorks)
The modern St. Sebastian Church, built in 1962 became a kindergarten in 2009, by Bolles-Wilson, Münster, Germany
(via Bolles-Wilson)
The Church Brew Works, in a catholic church built in 1878, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(via Church Brew Works Facebook and Converted Churches)
O'Neill's Muswell Hill, London, UK
(via Evan Munro, O'Neills Muswell Hill Facebook and Excel English)
The Church Bar & Restaurant, Dublin, Ireland
(via The Church Facebook and The Church)
Two loft-type houses from a 19th century chapel in Bazel, East Flanders, Belgium
(via OWI)
John Knox Church, by William Boag Architects Pty Ltd, Brighton, Australia, 2009
(via Archdaily, photos by Sonia Mangiapane)
The Abbey Church Lofts with a four-level penthouse in the bell tower, converted from the Howard Park Methodist Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2008
(via Loftenberg)
Victoria Lofts, converted from the turn-of-the-century West Toronto Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(via Monica Macmillan)
The St. Saviours, now a luxurious home with gold leaf hot tub, platinum leaf ceiling and a cinema room, Knightsbridge, London, 2004
(via Wigan Property and Lewis Granaiola)
The Victorian Westbourne Grove Church, built in 1953 London
(via abduzeedo)
A 19th century chapel with the original pipe organ a pulpit, Bedfordshire, UK
(via Locationworks)