Restored and Repurposed to Thrive in a Modern World
God breathes fresh life into the places we thought were broken… sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
God loves taking the seemingly broken-down places and breathing life back into them.
Restored and repurposed to thrive in a modern world.
Last summer, my family and I visited the UK. We saw breathtaking architecture everywhere… but one place stood out above the rest.
It was a very old and historic church.
Beautiful, reverent, and… now a bustling food court.
If you ever visit London, make time to walk through Mercato Mayfair, formerly St. Mark’s Church Mayfair. It’s one of the most beautiful examples of London architecture, church restoration, and creative repurposed spaces you’ll find.
I know… that doesn’t sound very spiritual. It might even feel like a waste.
But standing there, I couldn’t stop thinking about redemption and repurpose.
Thousands of people now walk into this space every week.
And maybe, just maybe, a few will look up at those stained-glass windows, the towering wood pillars, the ornate gold alter, or even the bustling community gathering for a meal and sense something sacred, and realize that God still breathes new life into old places… even the ones we think are beyond repair.
The church, originally built in the 1820s and deconsecrated in the 1970s, was lovingly restored and reopened in 2019 as a multi-level market that preserved its grandeur, even the arches, the stained glass, the history… while welcoming the city inside.
When we say history, these roots go back during World War II, it became known as the American Church because of its closeness to the U.S. Embassy. Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt both visited.
Today, it’s alive again, serving the community in a new way… while honoring what it once was. Restoration and repurpose… side by side.
You might go for the food halls or culture… but don’t be surprised if the beauty of this place stirs something deeper… a sense of spiritual renewal and redemption in the middle of everyday life.
Maybe you too have what feels like forgotten or un-finished places in your life… just waiting for restoration and repurpose.
Action Steps to Live This Out
• Name one “abandoned place” in your life: a calling, habit, or relationship that went quiet. Write one small next step to breathe on it this week.
Walk a repurposed space in your city: an old station, market, or church and journal what it stirs in you about redemption.
Ask God to show you where He wants to restore rather than replace: then take one humble action to join Him in that work.
Tell someone the story: share one area where you’ve seen renewal and invite them to look for their own.
Believe and move forward: Belief and optimism are powerful tools, but when we combine this with taking the first steps… miraculous things can happen. So you know where you are headed, get started!
Wow what a neat idea and great piece🙏😎💃