I discovered the heartbreaking news that our beloved place of worship was engulfed in flames around 2 a.m. The shock hit me as I woke up to multiple missed calls and an overwhelming number of messages, all accompanied by devastating pictures of the bell tower consumed by fire. It was surreal but impossible to deny. Our church, our sanctuary, reduced to ashes. Fortunately, everyone is safe, but the loss is immeasurable.
Back in our St. Louis days, when we were still young and childless, my friends and I entertained the idea of transforming the long-abandoned Catholic church into a skate park. We, a pack of rebellious teenagers, roamed Delmar Boulevard, the city’s east-west artery, skateboarding to our heart’s content. We were considered pests, referred to as the Loop Rats by the store owners who frequently chased us away from their establishments.
Like many young individuals from humble backgrounds, I believed I had to escape to a glamorous metropolis to achieve success. So, I spent over a decade chasing dreams in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston. Yet, it was upon returning home that I realized the value of building a thriving community, something increasingly rare in today’s world.
A few years ago, my friends and I combined our resources to transform St. Liborius Church, a renowned historical site and the largest Gothic revival church west of the Mississippi, into a community space. The idea of creating a skate park within the grand walls of a church was never part of my long-term plans. However, the opportunity to provide the young generation of St. Louis with a remarkable place where they could feel welcome and never be shunned was too enticing to resist.
The journey of converting St. Liborius into Sk8 Liborius was a do-it-yourself endeavor. One advantage of living in an overlooked area is that no one really cares about what happens here. This reality can be both challenging and liberating. While it may result in job scarcity and infrastructure decay, it also means that large-scale creative projects can still be accessible to those who aren’t affluent. In America’s aspiring cities, creativity often belongs solely to the privileged classes. However, in forgotten places like ours, regular individuals take responsibility for breathing life back into their communities. St. Louis alone houses around 25,000 abandoned buildings, and it’s up to its inhabitants to restore them since the super-rich seem more interested in exploring Mars than saving our city.
For years, we worked tirelessly, removing dead pigeon carcasses from the church to clear space for construction. We humorously referred to ourselves as the “dead pigeon club,” and some even got tattoos to commemorate our punk-like dedication, even in our thirties. I nearly had a panic attack when a live pigeon flew too close to my face in the bell tower. Countless local volunteers contributed their skills to this project, ranging from tradespeople carrying out masonry repairs to office workers securing funding and grants. Together, we created something extraordinary.
Although the process of building Sk8 Liborius took over a decade, our community only received national attention this summer, unfortunately due to a tragic incident. Prior to the massive fire that devastated Sk8 Liborius, it was a beacon of beauty in a place not typically associated with such splendor. Some of the original stained glass windows remained intact, showcasing vibrant hues depicting stories from the New Testament. An incomplete portrait of Mother Mary, with a tree branch peeking through her left eye, added to the profound ambiance. In moments of skateboarding mishaps, lying on your back, the gold mosaic ceiling tiles provided solace through their sacred geometry.
The walls of Sk8 Liborius were adorned with murals created by local artists. The only rule was not to cover up the original religious artwork, allowing century-old lunettes to coexist with graffiti tags like “STL Punk.” Walking through the cross-shaped open space leading to the altar, where numerous broken skateboards were laid as sacrificial artifacts, evoked a profound sense of spirituality.
Skateboarding naturally brings people together without regard for social boundaries, and Sk8 Liborius exemplified this inclusive spirit. Teenagers from impoverished areas of North St. Louis skated alongside professional skateboarders who had sought out the church as a unique destination. Occasional yoga classes were held, and various musical performances took place, ranging from rap to metal bands. A group of queer quad skaters regularly graced the space, while local parents brought their toddlers to ride tricycles. One roller skater preferred to don a dinosaur costume for an added dash of whimsy. Nuns who had been part of the church prior to its abandonment in 1992 would visit, overjoyed to witness the church reclaiming its role in the community. Sk8 Liborius was a haven where people could feel safe and liberated.
Our intention had always been to preserve the church, but now it lay in ruins, and we couldn’t help but feel like we had failed. Years of relentless optimism had been crushed into rubble. However, the mere existence of Sk8 Liborius was a miracle itself, proving that transformation is possible anywhere, even in seemingly unwanted spaces characterized by vacant lots, Dollar Tree stores, dusty brick buildings, and payday loan signs.
A community is not defined by a building, and St. Louis has shown remarkable resilience. In the aftermath of the fire, emergency community meetings were held, where over 200 volunteers rallied to secure the building and clean up the mess left behind in the neighborhood. Even grade schoolers organized a lemonade stand to raise funds for supplies. We are determined to rebuild because there is no one else invested in making our corner of this neglected earth more beautiful.
Rachel Chapman is a board member of Sk8 Liborius, an indoor skate park and community outreach organization in St. Louis.
The New York Times Opinion section welcomes diverse perspectives and values your feedback. Share your thoughts on this article or any other by emailing us at [email protected]. Stay updated on the latest from The Times Opinion section by following us on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion), and Instagram.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
