McDONOUGH – While not its original purpose, a defunct church in McDonough could soon be serving the community in another way.

The McDonough Improvement Committee announced last week that it’s worked out plans to takeover the Calvary Episcopal Church on county Rt. 7 within the next few weeks and convert the 123-year-old structure into a library and performing arts facility.

“When the Episcopal Diocese (Syracuse) closed the church last year they offered to hand it over to a community group if there was any interest,” said Eleanor Troicke, president of the McDonough Improvement Committee. “We wanted to keep the building a part of the community. We wanted to preserve it.”

Tentative plans call for 2,000 book collection in the sanctuary area of the church. It would be an official branch of the Oxford Memorial Library and a part of the Four County Library System. No official name has been given to the center.

“This is wonderful,” said Oxford Library Director Nancy Wilcox. “I’ve wanted for sometime to find somewhere to expand our outreach.”

Troicke said the altar and organ area at the west end of the building would act as a stage for local musical acts, small plays or poetry reads.