CANTON A local church named in honor of a modern-day clergyman is being repurposed to serve other ministries.
The James S. Thomas United Methodist Church at 3412 Harmont Ave. NE officially closed as a place of worship in September.
The building is being transformed into a multifaceted space that will house a food pantry, community meeting space and outreach programs designed to serve the needy under the auspices of Crossroads United Methodist Church, which purchased the building last week.
A predominately black congregation, James S. Thomas UMC was organized by the Rev. Gregory Palmer in 1984, with its 100 members initially meeting at Fairmount School. The church was built for $400,000, and members completed the interior themselves.