Montview's Heritage Center and Library: History in the Making

The spirit of Montview lives in the rich collection of stories that make up its foundation: stories of community and connection, of activism and social justice, of people who first found God within its very walls. Since the construction of the original sanctuary in 1908, what is now the Heritage Center and Library has been the historic heart of the campus. The Library’s many books have fed the curiosity and interests of visitors for decades. Since
the 1990s, The Heritage Center has been home to more than 25 historical displays with topics ranging from “Mission and Ministry” to “Sacred Music.”

Today, the Heritage Center and the Library are in the midst of an extensive transformation. The wall that defined the border of the library has been removed, creating one fluid and expansive space. Even with floors covered in dust and plaster restoration work taking place, the room itself is grounding. Soft tones stream
into it from the large stained-glass windows and the area feels warm and inviting. The location is ideal for its envisioned purpose – to house the Heritage Center and Library and also to serve as a reception area following worship services or performances in the Miller Center. 

In the original plans for this space, a large storage area was to be built where the Library once stood. When the architects entered the room, however, they knew that this site of Montview’s original sanctuary was too special to use in this way. 
Plans were revised with the aim of highlighting the stained-glass windows and re-establishing a connection between the Heritage Center and the Miller Center. In the new space, the doors that divide both of these Centers will slide open and closed.

The Heritage Center, on the south end of the room, will undergo a true tech upgrade. There will be a large, interactive computer screen built into the wall that, with a long table across from it, can be used for small meetings.
Primarily, however, the screen will feature scrolling exhibits – the “new” Heritage Center displays. 

In the center of the room there will be a small table with chairs around it where people can gather for fellowship or wait for a theater performance to begin. The Library will line the walls along the north end of the room and visitors will be able to borrow books and sit comfortably in the Library area or anywhere else within the space. Just beyond the Library, in the Robinson Room, will be a Children’s Library.    
Serving as memorial resources within our church, the Heritage Center and Library will continue to collect the stories that we are creating in the present. Birthed in the canvas-walled tent the original congregants worshiped in over a century ago, Montview’s spirit endures in the experiences and actions of today.

Each person who donated to the Capital Campaign has made the preservation of our rich heritage possible. The sacred spaces that house our past, present, and future are strengthened by your generosity. We thank you for ensuring that the spirit of Montview lives on for generations to come.


To learn more about the plans go to https://www.montview.org/campaign.