An Altar in the Living Room, a Pew at the Dining Table: A Wisconsin Contractor Turns Churches Into Homes

• Contractor Dan Majewski of Majic Properties converted the former Lakeview Christian Church on Madison’s east side into a home.
• The church was built in 1950; the renovation took five months.
• Majewski has converted four churches into homes, three in the Milwaukee area and one in Madison, priced at $500,000 to $800,000.
• The new owner kept the altar in the living room and a church pew at the dining table.

A Wisconsin contractor has made a speciality of turning former churches into family homes. WMTV 15 News reported on his latest project, the former Lakeview Christian Church on Madison’s east side.

The church was built in 1950. Dan Majewski of Majic Properties spent five months converting it into a home. He has now converted four churches, three in the Milwaukee area and one in Madison, and the homes are priced from $500,000 to $800,000. The Madison conversion kept reminders of the building’s past: the altar is in the living room, a church pew serves at the dining table and there is a kitchen in the basement.

Majewski described how it started: “I found a church that was for sale, and it kind of scared me a little. But since I couldn’t find anything, I bought the first church and fixed that up and turned it into my home.” He added: “It’s a home. By the end of the day, it’s a large ceiling, big open space home.”

The new owner, Allison Rettig, said: “I really love the big windows; I love all the light. The floor plan flows really well for me.” She added: “It’s been a long five month process. So to see if come to life was really exciting.”

Small, mid-century churches can make good homes: they often have large windows, open space and solid construction, and they are simpler to convert than grand stone buildings. Jamaican investors and returning residents interested in unusual homes could look out for small, surplus chapels and church halls, especially in towns where land for new building is scarce. Before buying, check the title, any covenants that restrict use, and whether the local authority will approve residential use. A careful conversion can create a distinctive home while keeping a piece of community history.

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