CAMBRIDGE – Danielle Benning has no fear about taking on big renovations.

Along with her husband Martin Rawlinson, they renovated the decade-empty Woolco building into an upscale furniture store in Galt last year. Now, the store owners have moved from a big old house in Brantford to Hespeler, where they’re ready to convert the former St. Mathew’s Anglican church into their new home.

“The neighbours are really nice, but some of them must think we’re crazy,” she said.

The couple stumbled across the real estate listing over the summer. After a couple of visits, they refused to look any farther and bought it.

A cornerstone was laid for St. James Anglican in 1893. A century later, however, it was empty, after a new St. James opened on Ellis Road.

Some former members formed a new congregation under the Independent Anglican Church of Canada, purchased the building and resumed services there in 1994. The last service in St. Mathew was held in May.

The 3000-square-foot building has the original sanctuary and meeting hall in the basement. A utilitarian, flat-roofed addition was built in the 1960s.

Because it’s a church, they had to apply for a zone change with city hall even though church leaders have lived there in the past. Nobody objected to turning the building into a single family home at a public meeting. Final approval is expected at tonight’s city council meeting.

Benning wouldn’t talk about what they paid for the church, or what it will cost to renovate. All she would say is by the time things are done, it may not cost as much as buying a new, 3,000-square-foot home.

Not that Benning would want a new house. Few buildings compare to the old St. Mathew, or offer the challenge of remaking a sacred place into a home, she said.

“We wanted to find something interesting. We’re project people.”

The sanctuary will become a great room, with high wooden ceilings. A kitchen is planned where the altar once stood, with cabinets placed to ensure the stained glass remains an eye-catching focal point.

Downstairs, a church kitchen will be replaced with a fireplace and the former church hall converted into a monster recreation room under nearly three-metre-tall ceilings. Bedrooms will go into the addition. Little change is planned outside, aside from tearing up some asphalt to make way for greenery, and building a garage in the the parking lot.

“We want to keep the feel of the church, we don’t want to disguise it.”

“The goal is to make it like we’re supposed to be here,” Benning said.

Benning was raised as a Catholic and treasures the religious icons and images inside the church. Piping around the widows and paintings on the plaster walls will be kept, as will the stained glass and fabric hangings from the rafters. While much of the furniture that came with the building will be reused, most of the 23 solid oak pews stored in the basement are up for sale.

Most church icons, however, won’t stay in the house. A polished bronze cross from the altar rests in a cluster of a candle holders beside a long-handled candle snuff. And there’s several boxes of other items that came with the building Benning still hasn’t sorted through yet.

“Some of the religious items we’ll send along to another church,” she said.

Benning’s goal is to have all the rewiring, plumbing and renovation done by summer.

Benning’s mom, Diane Hornsey, has been helping prepare for the renovations over the last week. She’s smitten by the church, too.

“What is magical is in the morning, the light coming in the stained glass. Amazing.”

Benning points to the window above east-facing main door: “At sunrise, the light shines right on the altar.”

kswayze@cambridgereporter.com