Closed Scituate Church Hits the Market

By Johanna Seltz
Boston Globe
June 8, 2017

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2017/06/08/closed-scituate-church-market-for-million/KhZnA5Zj6Q3e2gM5Gi5jZK/story.html

The St. Frances X. Cabrini church building is likely to be torn down by whoever buys the property for development.

The Scituate Roman Catholic church occupied for nearly 12 years by parishioners opposed to its closing is on the market for $2.2 million.

St. Frances X. Cabrini church and its surrounding 16.2 acres are likely to become a residential development, according to the realtor listing the property.

“We are getting a lot of interest in the land from many, many developers,” said Elaine Bongarzone of the Jack Conway real estate firm.

The Archdiocese of Boston closed the church in 2004 -- a move challenged by parishioners who staged an almost 12-year vigil and occupied the church round-the-clock until their legal appeals ran out. The parishioners held a farewell service in May 2016.

Archdiocese spokesman Terrence Donilon confirmed that there has been interest in the property, which went on the market in April. He said it was too soon to comment on future use of the site.

Bongarzone said she expected a new buyer to tear down the church building, which she said was in “deplorable condition.”

She said the archdiocese first asked whether the town was interested in buying the property on Hood Road, in Scituate’s Egypt neighborhood. She said officials declined the offer for financial reasons, but expressed interest in having a development that would include housing for the elderly or people who are downsizing.

The land is zoned residential and can be used for single-family homes, multi-family buildings, and condominiums or co-ops, she said.

“It’s a beautiful area,” she added.

After the Supreme Court declined to hear the case between them and the archdiocese, the vigilers announced plans to form a new “Catholic community” church in Scituate.

The Friends of St. Frances, led by Maryellen and Jon Rogers, began meeting at the Satuit Lodge of Freemasons as they planned a capital campaign for their own church building.

Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com