Friday Front Porch Feature: A Former Sanctuary Now a Home
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a home with a unique history that can be your sanctuary? Then this might be the house for you.
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 53 Greylock Terrace.
This 1940 home has five rooms in total including 1 1/2 bathrooms. It is 2,652 square feet on less than half an acre of land.
Originally a church, it offers a wide open concept living area with high ceilings, original pews and stained glass windows.
It is in need of updates, but it could be heavenly for an owner with the spirit to make this building their own.
It is on the market for $165,000.
We spoke with Heather Gallagher with Stone House Properties LLC, which has the listing.
What do you think makes this house stand out in the current market?
53 Greylock Terrace stands out because it really doesn't fit into a typical category. It has the bones and history of a former church, including the original sanctuary, balcony, some pews and steeple. In a market where so many homes can feel similar, this one is completely different. It has character, history and lots of possibility.
What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?
Think creatively and have an open mind. It's such a unique space — buyers with all different concepts have been coming through. It's the kind of property that needs someone who can see the potential.
Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?
Yes, I understand it was originally St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church and served Pittsfield's Ukrainian community for nearly a century. According to the parish's history, the congregation purchased the land and began construction around 1916, and the church was blessed in 1921. The steeple was added in 1937, and the church remained active until services ended in 2014. A final Divine Liturgy was held there in 2016. One especially meaningful detail is that a 93-year-old daughter of one of the parish's original founders attended that final service. There is also still an original Ukrainian inscription on the exterior of the building.
What do you love most about this home?
For me, it's the sanctuary. You walk into that room and immediately understand that this property has had a life before its current one. The height, stained glass, balcony and the openness of the space are things you don't find in a typical home. I also love that so much of the building's original identity is still visible.
Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?
Really the architectural details that remain from its life as a church standout — the large sanctuary, original pews, interior balcony, steeple and exterior Ukrainian inscription. There's an interesting mix of historic church architecture and living space.
Is there anything that needs to be done?
Yes. This is definitely a property for someone who is comfortable taking on a project. There are areas that need finishing and updating, and because of the building's unconventional history and layout, a buyer needs to do their due diligence regarding intended use, permitting, etc. I think the right buyer will see that as part of the opportunity — there's still room to make it very much their own.
How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?
It's hard to compare it to anything else. You can still really feel the history of the building, especially in the sanctuary with the stained glass and balcony, but it also feels full of possibility. It's a little quirky - and definitely a space that gets your imagination going!
What is the neighborhood like?
It's in an established residential neighborhood in Pittsfield, close to downtown and convenient to everything the area has to offer. I think the location makes it easy to enjoy both Pittsfield and the greater Berkshires.
You can find out more about this house on its listing here.
*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.
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