Follow the Light: For couple, Granger church restoration an exercise of passion, patience and preservation

Robert Halstrom and his dog Ladybug relax near day's end at what was once Granger United Methodist Church on Monday, May 22. Halstrom and his wife Joanne bought the circa 1904 church in 2019. The project has continued since then, but then Joanne was dealt a a life-altering accident in March 2022. The project has been put on hold for months, but slowly, Halstrom is back at work. Photos by Andy Sharp
Robert Halstrom and his dog Ladybug relax near day's end at what was once Granger United Methodist Church on Monday, May 22. Halstrom and his wife Joanne bought the circa 1904 church in 2019. The project has continued since then, but then Joanne was dealt a a life-altering accident in March 2022. The project has been put on hold for months, but slowly, Halstrom is back at work. Photos by Andy Sharp

It’s been quite a while since the last visit to what was once Granger First United Methodist Church, an iconic structure at the corner of South Granger and East Elm streets.  

Since May is National Preservation Month, it’s a good time for a project update.

A little backstory. The church, built in 1904, closed its doors in spring 2019 after membership fell to just a handful. I recall meetin…