A Home for St. Bart's

 
 
FIRST SUNDAY AT 1000 EASTON RD WILL BE NOVEMBER 8, 2026 AT 10:30 AM.

Almighty God, you have planted St. Bart’s in East Dallas. Give us grateful hearts for all you have done, wisdom and courage for the work before us, and generosity to provide a lasting place of worship and welcome. Let it be a place where our neighbors are received, and lives are changed by your Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord. amen.

Dear St. Bart’s Family,

We are thrilled to share that the Lord has provided a unique opportunity for St. Bart’s to purchase an existing East Dallas church building as our permanent home.

As you may know, St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church was launched Nov. 1, 2015, through the generous hospitality of Central Lutheran Church. It is a beautiful and inspiring space, with one center aisle, pews and kneelers, floor-to-ceiling glass on both sides, and the cross of Christ lifted high.

Now, almost 11 years later, we have signed a purchase agreement to acquire the land, buildings and assets from Central Lutheran.

Together, we have been praying for a permanent home for St. Bart’s for several years, and we praise God for this opportunity before us. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us as we continue to connect the people of East Dallas with God and with His people so that we might behold God and become more like Him.

Every blessing,

Rev. Dave Larlee, Rector

Ashley Walcher, Senior Warden of the Vestry

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FAQs

  • We are purchasing approximately 4 acres of land at 1000 Easton Road, the buildings thereon (the Sanctuary, the education building, office space, choir and youth rooms, and the Parish Hall, along with the catering kitchen), and virtually all the furnishings and equipment (including the Steinway and Sons piano, organ, all pews and kneelers, sound and video equipment, and kids room supplies).

  • Central Lutheran (“CLC”) has operated a church on this land since 1960 when the Parish Hall was constructed, followed by the current Sanctuary in 1968. CLC currently has a congregation of approximately 20 people, and they recently decided that it no longer makes sense for them to continue to own and pay for operating costs. The congregation and leadership of Central Lutheran have been kind to St. Bart’s through the years, as St. Bart’s had its first service through the gracious hosting of Central Lutheran on November 1, 2015.  And now, almost 11 years later, by mutual agreement, St. Bart’s has signed a purchase contract to acquire the assets of Central Lutheran Church.

  • CLC will now be a licensee of St. Bart’s, and CLC has agreed to move its service to 8 am on Sunday mornings, and to be out of the Sanctuary by 9 am.  Central Lutheran will also use the property at other times that do not conflict with St. Bart’s use of the facility, like Good Friday at 6 pm (whereas our Good Friday service is at noon), as well as a few other times.  We hope to love and serve them well as our guests, as they did to us from 2015 through 2020.

  • This is a purchase of the land, buildings and assets of Central Lutheran.  St. Bart’s will receive a Deed to the land and buildings and will receive a Bill of Sale for the personal property.  CLC has agreed to a license agreement that frames the terms of their continued use of the property, including certain enumerated days and times.

  • We aim to close on Tuesday, October 27th.  Following the St. Bart’s service at Lake Highlands Church on November 1st, we hope to have the whole congregation drive to St. Bart’s new home at 1000 Easton Road.  Then on Sunday, November 8th, Lord willing, we will have our first service at the new property, with the Bishop coming to help dedicate the facility.  And please note: the service time on Sunday, November 8th will be 10:30 am, our new regular meeting time.

  • This may be the best-maintained church in East Dallas!  Central Lutheran has spent over $250,000 maintaining the property in the past 3 years and has spent over $1,500,000 in capital repairs in the past twenty-five years.  The cooling system for the Sanctuary was replaced in 2024 at a cost of $80,000, and CLC spent $120,000 this year to replace the HVAC in the Parish Hall.  Bottom line: CLC has repaired or replaced most of the building systems that could be our biggest expenses. In addition, we have commissioned a property condition report from a national group that specializes in church properties. We are grateful to the congregation of CLC for their maintenance of the property through the years.

  • Yes. CLC listed the property for sale with a church brokerage firm in spring 2026 for $3.5 million.  They did not put up a “For Sale” sign but rather had a “whisper campaign.”  CLC told us they received materially higher offers from other users, but to the credit of CLC, they did not want the buildings (and especially the Sanctuary) to be torn down, and they also wanted the ability to continue to meet for worship (now as a permitted user in St. Bart’s building) at 8 am on Sundays.  Over the course of several months, the St. Bart’s real estate committee worked with the leadership of the CLC church council.  The real estate committee made a recommendation to the Vestry of St. Bart’s, which approved the purchase and sale agreement on Sunday, September 20th.  CLC approved the purchase and sale agreement by congregational vote on Sunday, September 20th.  Now St. Bart’s is “under contract” to purchase the land, building and assets.

    1. The purchase price for the land, building and assets is $2 million. As mentioned above, we believe this is approximately 50% of the fair market value, and equates to $87 per square foot to the improvements.  

    2. We are grateful to the Lord for his provision of this opportunity.

    3. St. Bart’s has a total target closing cost of $2.5 million, which will allow St. Bart’s to acquire the property, pay closing costs, install new signage, make some immediate improvements, and have adequate operating and interest reserves.  We also have a “Phase 2” target of $500,000 which would allow St. Bart’s to make improvements & enhancements to the playground, the sound and video system, and other items. 

    4. St. Bart’s has received pledges to date of $1.25 million. We have a senior mortgage loan option of up to $1.25 million, if needed.

    5. Importantly, we will incur additional costs as we settle into our new church home.  In addition to one-time gifts to facilitate the purchase, we ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your monthly giving as we together seek to expand God’s Kingdom in Dallas.  Any amount, large or small, is meaningful.

  • As we understand it, the remaining congregation of CLC desires to continue to meet weekly for worship, and desires to be generous and give to further the work of God in Dallas, especially (but not exclusively) through Lutheran ministries.  From St. Bart’s standpoint, $2 million is a fantastic price for the land and buildings, which we believe to be a meaningful discount to the fair market value and to the replacement cost.  We pray that the people of St. Bart’s show great hospitality to the people of CLC in the days ahead.

  • If we don’t reach our goal, the playground enhancements and some other improvement projects will be forced to wait. The Vestry has approved moving forward with the acquisition and our hope and prayer is for the full capital campaign now, and for 100% participation, no matter the amount.

  • The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12 that “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

    1. We are grateful that St. Bart’s has people with many different God-given gifts.  As you are able, we ask that you consider a one-time gift and/or increased monthly giving.  Monthly giving is essential to the health of our church.  Giving will not be in equal amounts, but we hope you are encouraged and blessed by participating, at absolutely any amount, in this significant moment in the life of our church.

    2. If you can’t give financially, we have many places where your talent and time can be used to further God’s Kingdom in East Dallas.  Please see the Serve tab on our church website, or reach out to any clergy or staff.  Together, we continue to seek to connect the people of East Dallas with God and His people, so that we might behold God and become more like Him.

  • Yes. Donations to St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church are deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you have additional questions, please contact any of the following people, all of whom serve on the Real Estate Committee (REC), the Vestry (V) or both. You also may contact any member of the clergy:

 

As we behold the face of God in the face of Christ, we are transformed into his image. This is what it means to be fully human—to become like Jesus, the truly human one, and to grow more and more in the freedom of the children of God.