Hadley Township Church, 100 Years Old, Is For Sale In Richmond Heights

The building used by members of the 100-year-old Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church went on sale this week in Richmond Heights. The property is located in the northern section of Hadley Township that Pace Properties sought to turn into a retail development before pulling out.

No price tag has been set, though it will be in the millions of dollars, said Daniel Wagner, who is selling the property.

Some current and former members of Mt. Zion raised a red flag earlier this year after learning that the church's pastor, the . They said they hadn't been consulted about the decision, and Patterson declined to be interviewed.

The church did not sign a buyout contract with Pace before the company abandoned its development plans this month, Wagner said. Church members had already been planning to leave the building, Wagner said, and he has been in discussions with them about their relocation for a long time.

Members initially planned to move by the end of this year, though it's unclear whether those plans are still in place, Wagner said.

Georgia Adams, a Rock Hill resident who owns property in Richmond Heights, isn't pleased with the sale. She moved from the state of Louisiana to St. Louis in January 1950 and placed membership at Mt. Zion one or two years later.

Over time, she sang in the choir and attended Bible classes. She and other members worked hard to pay for the building and later additions through cake walks, barbecues and other events.

But she stopped attending seven or eight months ago because of fallout she claims Patterson created.

"Why should our church be sold and we don't know anything about it?" Adams said.

She said developers have targeted the church for the last decade and that members were under the impression they would have to sell the building regardless of what happened.

"To have something like this happen is just wrong," Adams said.

More about Hadley Township on Patch:

• Mt. Zion's 100th Year Might Be Its Last in Richmond Heights
• Hadley Township: Menards Making 'Very Positive Progress' on Contracts
• Hadley Exit by Pace Properties Draws Reaction on Social Media
• Pace Properties Abandons Hadley Township Retail Development