Knoxville church property off market after 7 years

Former St. Canice Church, high school and two related properties in Knoxville recently were sold after being vacant for years and seven years on the market, church officials said.

"It's been up for sale since we closed the (church) in 2005. Quite frankly, we're a smaller parish now, and we don't have a school at all, regrettably," said the Rev. Thomas Wilson, administrator of Allentown-based St. John Vianney Parish, which was formed from a merger of St. Canice and three other churches in 1994.

The 116-year-old former church, rectory, high school and parking lot on Orchard Place were split in December between two buyers -- Knoxville Baptist Church and Lion of Judah Church.

Lion of Judah Church purchased the 17,286-square-foot St. Canice church, 6,870-square-foot rectory and 10,000-square-foot parking lot for $65,000, said the Rev. Joel Garcia, of Lion of Judah.

Founded nine years ago, the nondenominational Christian church of about 40 members leases space at another church in Knoxville.

Garcia said his church needs to raise about $75,000 to complete work on the St. Canice building so that it can pass code inspections.

"We probably calculate, in about a year and a half, we're going to open up if everything goes well," he said.

Knoxville Baptist Church bought former Hilltop Catholic High School -- which previously was St. Canice High School -- for $4,000, said the Rev. Ron Lengwin, of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The high school has been closed for almost 25 years, said Wilson, of St. John Vianney Parish.

The 32,372-square-foot building was constructed in 1921, according to the Allegheny County Assessor's Office.

Knoxville Baptist Church, which has about 35 members, plans to sell the site it now occupies on Orchard Place and relocate to the former high school, said the Rev. Jerry Kadales.

The larger space will allow the church to expand its programs and services -- including a distribution center that provides free and discounted household items to those in need, he said.

St. Canice was founded in 1892. Built in 1896, the existing church building was constructed in the Gothic and Romanesque revival style, according to the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, based in Station Square.

The foundation has determined that the church is a historical resource within Pittsburgh, but the building doesn't have an official historic designation, said Frank Stroker, the foundation's assistant archivist.