Salem Lutheran Church Bought by St. Matthew's

The Courier has announced that Salem Lutheran Church, on 67th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues in Bay Ridge, was bought -- last year -- by St. Matthew’s, a church with congregations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Texas.

The entire Salem church complex, including a sanctuary, a parsonage, an auditorium-gymnasium and a garage, sold for $2.5 million.

St. Matthew's, which plans to renovate the property, has committed more than $1 million to the project.

Salem Lutheran Church dates back to 1904 in this community, and occupied the 67th Street property from 1945 until last year. It was once an integral part of the Scandinavian community here.

Local preservationists are happy that Salem has been saved from demolition.

The article from the Courier.

Questions arise about the legitimacy of St. Matthew's.  Is it really a church? [The Brooklyn Paper.]