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At Christ Central, we are launching a capital campaign to purchase and renovate a historic building in the center of Durham as a long-term ministry home. This is an opportunity to invest in putting down roots to let the love of Christ shine—for the glory of God and the good of Durham.
Durham is a special city—and we’re so proud to call it home. In its beauty and brokenness, Durham is a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of pain, gain, and unfolding possibility. Its history of racial strife is as evident as the highway that still cuts the city in two. The skyline features symbols of industrial leadership from the past alongside centers for arts and education shaping the future. This city is a story still in the making.
And we get to be part of that story. The city has changed tremendously in 11 years, as has our church. And we long for God’s work of renewal to be at the center of both—for Christ Central to reflect the light of the gospel in the city we love.
Over 11 years, we have worshiped in two Durham locations. We’re grateful for each as a place for meaningful worship and ministry. But the impermanence of our location has posed difficulties. To not have access to space seven days a week limits ministry possibilities. And the work of finding and re-finding space every few years requires energy we’re eager to devote directly to mission.
We learned in 2023 from our current landlord that we would once again need to move—now for the third time. And so we have prayed and earnestly sought a location that might be for the long term. As a church with a call to serve the city, we long to serve with permanence.
The building’s features:
50K square feet
May ’25 closing date
There are few locations in Durham that could be more central than what God is making available to us at the crossroads of Highway 147 and West Chapel Hill Street.
For more than 100 years, a Baptist church worshiped in this building until it relocated to the suburbs. In 2003, Durham Charter School moved in; they are now selling it to open a new campus. And this gives Christ Central a beautiful opportunity to open doors—literally and metaphorically—to be a people and church where the beautiful renewal of Christ has a long-term home in the city.
Because we’ll own the building, we can do ministry and meet the needs of the city in expanded and innovative ways.
A vision for a permanent home in the center of Durham–to reflect the hope and heart of Christ for generations to come.
Together, through this building and our people, we long to:
The heart of church is its people, but our building can be a place that deepens and expands how people find community.
We long for this city to know God in personal ways. This historic building is a clarion call: God is present here.
With the new space, we have a gospel opportunity to further invest in practices of renewal for our neighbors–in the city and beyond.
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In Matthew 5, Jesus commissions his followers to let our light shine. He asks us to think of ourselves as a “city on a hill” and “a light on
a stand” that can’t be hidden and that exist for the sake of others. The point isn’t to draw eyes to ourselves, but to live with a public faith that helps more people see the glory and goodness of God.
And this is precisely our dream for a new building home. Because the tactical and logistical needs for a long-term space are very real for Christ Central, but that a building can also stand for something. From the heart of downtown Durham, we want to make visible the hope and heart of Christ, for generations to come.
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Built in 1957 and used as a school, this Colonial Revival-style building requires both repairs and renovations to be functional as a church, much less positioned for future ministry possibilities. Our hope is to begin worshiping here by summer of 2028. Prior to that, we’re aiming to invest financial resources and energy into repairs that include painting, millwork, and structural updates.
We are asking everyone who calls Christ Central home to invest toward our campaign goal by February 23. Every gift of every size matters.
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Thank you for your commitment to helping accomplish the vision of Christ Central Durham through this campaign. Your support is vital in our ability to secure and renovate a historic building as a long-term home for gospel ministry in the heart of the city. By taking the first steps in fulfilling your commitment, we hope you will experience the joy of being a part of something that will impact lives for years.
Give Online
Planning Center offers a secure way to give via your bank account or card with minimal processing fees. Give directly on Planning Center!
Give In Person
You are always welcome to give a check or cash during the offering time on Sunday mornings.
Mail A Check
You can mail a check to the church (1004 N Mangum St Durham, NC 27701) or drop it in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. Please note Make Visible Campaign or Building Fund in the memo line (or on an envelope for cash).
Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-advised funds allow donors to give cash, stocks, and other assets to a charitable trust, immediately receive a tax deduction, allow those assets to grow, and then direct their funds to not-for-profits of their choosing. Donor-advised funds are available through a number of investment firms (Schwab, Fidelity, etc.) as well as through National Christian Foundation. If you're interested in setting up a donor-advised fund in order to give to the Make Visible Campaign, you can set up a fund and learn more at https://www.ncfgiving.com/. Please note that DAF gifts should be specifically marked for the Make Visible Campaign or Building Fund.
stock gifts
Christ Central is able to accept transfers of publicly traded stock. If you're interested in giving stock, please email Carson Rockett.
Crypto gifts
Christ Central is able to accept gifts of cryptocurrency. If you're interested in giving cryptocurrency, please email Meredith Miller.
Other Non-Cash Assets
If you have other non-cash assets (real estate, business interests, estate gifts, etc.) you're interested in giving, please email Carson Rockett.
Thanks to you, we have made great progress in our fundraising and are now in the implementation phase of our new building project at 807 West Chapel Hill Street!
Maybe you have questions–check out our FAQs on the right and hopefully you'll find an answer. We’ll continue to update these FAQs as things progress.
What is the scope of the project?
When we purchased the building, it had been occupied by a school for the last 20 years. The renovations will include turning some of the spaces that served the school well back into the building’s original intent: a church. There are also a number of capital improvements to be made to the building's structure and systems (electrical updates, new HVAC system, accessibility upgrades, audio/visual upgrades).
We are continuing to explore funding opportunities both inside and outside the church and are waiting for more clarity on these to help determine the final scope of the project.
How is the scope being determined?
Our building committee – comprised of Todd Orr, Kasey Althoff, Jenifer Hofmann, Bernard Worthy, Tyler Tomasik, and Craig Ward, along with Pastors Daniel and Timothy – is working alongside the session and WLC to determine what we can afford in this phase of construction and what aspects of the project need to be put on hold till a later date.
Who is going to do the renovation?
After multiple rounds of interviews, the building committee selected Tise-Kiester Architects to be our architect and CT Wilson Construction Company to be our general contractor. We are really excited about these two companies being the anchor partners in this project!
when will construction start?
Preliminary drawings of the building have been completed, and construction drawings are underway. We are also currently in the second phase of the site plan/permitting process with the city of Durham. Once the construction documents are completed and the site plan is approved by the city, the hammers will start swinging. We anticipate this happening mid to late summer, barring any setbacks.
WHEN WILL THE BUILDING BE READY?
Our hope is that the education wing will be ready in early spring of 2027, allowing us to move our offices and some of our programming into the building at that time. The sanctuary is scheduled for completion in the late spring of 2028, allowing us to begin worshiping in the new building in the summer of 2028.
How much will the building and renovation cost?
We will share a full budget and scope of our project at our Congregational Meeting on May 17th at 1004 N Mangum Street.
How can I ask questions and stay informed about the project?
We'll continually update you on our website and in our weekly email. If you don't already receive our weekly email, sign up here. You are also welcome to email us here!
We know your dreams for this church are as big as your heart is for this city. We want to invite you into this process. Share your ideas here, and the Leadership Team will pray over them as we continue to plan how we will use this space.
