The former St. Thomas Aquinas Church and three other church buildings in Hampden sold on April 13 for $1.8 million – the equivalent of three $600,000 single-family residences or six $300,000 residences.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore sold the properties as part of its “Seek the City to Come” initiative to realign parishes and sell surplus properties in the city.
The buyer was Hampden Mennonite Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated with Hampden Mennonite Church and Hampden Christian School in Baltimore.
In addition to the 1871 church at 1008 W. 37th Street, designed by noted architect George Frederick, the sale included a three-story school building at 3700 Roland Ave., formerly home of the St. Thomas Aquinas School; a rectory; a convent and 47 parking spaces on 1.2 acres.
The land is bounded by Roland Avenue on the east, W. 37th Street on the south and Hickory Avenue on the west. It encompasses the entire north side of 37th Street from Hickory Avenue to Roland Avenue.
According to Nathan Zook, pastor of Hampden Mennonite Church, his church will occupy the former St. Thomas Aquinas Church and its adjoining rectory, and Hampden Christian School will occupy the former St. Thomas Aquinas School and convent.
The church and school are currently located at 1234 W. 37th Street in Hampden.The last mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church was held in late 2024 and the archdiocese closed the school in 2016.
Zook had declined to disclose the purchase price of the property when he was interviewed last week but said in a subsequent text message that he was authorized to say what the amount was.
The pastor said his group initially was told it was outbid by another party after it submitted an offer in a sealed bid process last year. Two months later, he said, his group was informed that the winning contract fell through and the archdiocese was willing to accept its Letter of Intent.
He said he had faith all along that his group’s bid would prevail.
“When I heard we did not get it,” he said, “I still thought we would get it. I just thought it was the right place for our church to move. I couldn’t see why we would not get it.”
Zook said this week that he doesn’t have a date for when his congregation will begin meeting in its new home. He said the congregation is ready and eager to start worshipping there but he is still awaiting inspection by the city for an occupancy permit.
