Why would a church cost $1 million dollars to build?

Question

I live in Wisconsin. The average house costs $150G's (on the high side). My pastor says building a new church would cost $1Mil to build with all the overhead. I just can't fathom how that could be with all the volunteers and available property we have. My church is being split in two because so many can't see why either.
.
Fact 1: They want about 10 Acres to build on.
Fact 2: They need it to be visible. (signs and location)
Fact 3: We are in a mostly rural area (town of 4,000 pop.)
.
Is there anyone who can tell me why a church of about 200 would have to build a sanctuary for $1 Mil? and what is the cost surrounding that? I need a website here that will give me figures.

We are a contemporary worship church. No pews, no steeple and we're not paving 10 acres. They want the room to do picnics and events and for growth.

Answer 1

You aren't going to find a web site.

Basic construction cost would be higher then a residence, as everything needs to be retrofitted to a stricter code. Also, basics like sewers and power are much greater.

For a church most people like very high quality workmanship. Beautiful wooden pews, stained glass windows, marble flooring. Churches also sometimes have a basketball court for their children and a commercial grade kitchen for the congregation to use.

10 acres is a lot of land, that has to be graded and paved, some landscaping too.

Then there are the permits and surveys.

A million does not sound outrageous to me, it sounds rather conservative.

Answer 2

You folks are not being realistic here. Do you comprehend that a paved parking lot ALONE for what you are talking will take $100K to $150K to complete ?

As an example, the church were I grew up was closed a few years ago, and the church made a deal with the township to give them the land on which the church sat if the township would pay to have it demolished. Fair enough.

The township then built a new town hall (town HALL, not a palace) on the spot. The total cost to the town after construction was completed was substantially over a million dollars. It's an average building, with two sets of restrooms, basic flooring, walls, and windows. About the only 'Luxury' is some brick facing on the exterior to make it reasonably attractive.

This is ALSO in Wisconsin. One million dollars is NOT out of line for such a venture. I suggest that you speak with your pastor so that he can explain to you the various costs which will be associated with the pending project. You might get a real eye opener.

Answer 3

I know you live in a rural area, but depending on the size of church they want to build, it doesn't seem all that much for a large congregation of a couple hundred.

A steeple alone can cost well over $100 K.

Surprisingly, office furniture costs a lot.

Along with permits and contractors, it sounds like a safe price.

Answer 4

Something stinks big time.

They should be able to build a sizeable church for 1/4 that, and equip it for another 1/4.

For such a small area - really don't see the need for such a large church. Unless they plan to start having the entire community start attending.

I see little chance for a church of 200 raising $1 mill unless each person pledges $5K each

My father who is in construction - said that the average cost is $95 per sq ft for a commercial build of that nature.

So - based on that - you would have to be building a 10K sqft church for $1 mill

Answer 5

I like the small ones where everybody knows your name. I was never real crazy about mega-churches. It kinda takes away from the actual ministry to see some guy that showed up in a stretch limo standing on the stage with gold chains and a $3000 suit talking about how desperate they are to pay the bills. "Please donate $2500 and we'll carve your name in a brick for everybody to see" Really if there are that many people, you may need a big building to hold them all. The fact is, most of those churches are also sponsoring foreign missions. As well as food pantries, clothing banks, community meals, sometimes homeless shelters. Maybe you don't hear much about them unless you are in need of their services.

Answer 6

That seems way expensive for a church, especially considering the population of the church. And 10 acres of land seems like alot too.It seems to me that somebody wants to build a castle of a church, they are using VERY expensive materials, or somebody is taking a little off the top. I don't see why they just don't renovate or add on to the existing church.

Answer 7

Obviously you have a pastor with a $400 haircut and a Mercedes in the garage. Might be time to look for a church that focuses on the people instead of the bling.

Answer 8

Sounds like a lot for WI- They might be putting 14 k gold around the stained glass windows or something- lol- Why don't you ask your pastor? Around here in the NY a million dollars builds nothing new.

Answer 9

$1 million sounds actually pretty reasonable, if not conservative and I'm a Wisconsinite myself.

My Catholic church back home in N Wisconsin is building a huge church for the congregation and those costs are +$50 million.

Answer 10

Land; some parts of land are sometime worth more than the actuall structure and it also depends on the location.

Labor; you have to pay all those workers for their time and effort.

Miscellaneou: Rugs, fans, heating, air conditioning, etc.