Cambridge, MA -- May 2, 2005 -- The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge will open the doors of its newly renovated building, formerly Our Lady of Pity on Rindge Avenue in North Cambridge, on May 8th.

"What is really interesting about churches is that their theology comes out in their architecture,” said Glenn Knowles of CBT, the Boston-based architectural firm responsible for executing the project. The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge holds a strong belief that connection to God happens in community and so one of the major undertakings of this project was to create a lobby space where people could connect and congregate before and after services.

The first step in the renovation process was to execute a one hundred eighty degree reversal of the building's layout: the entrance is now in the back, facing all the other buildings on the property. The new entryway leads into the lobby, created out of the space that was formerly the altar and sacristy. A fifty-foot glass wall placed at the edge of the former altar now separates the lobby from the worship area.

"We have completely flipped the orientation of the building, taking out pews and old fixtures and installed a soaring glass wall to create a lobby under the apse. At the same time we have kept some of the beautiful architectural and artistic elements such as the eighty-year-old French stained glass. The changes are subtle but define theological differences,” states Knowles, "I think people will find that the building preserves the best of the traditional elements and simultaneously incorporates contemporary comforts and conveniences.” While the lobby is an example of theology intersecting with architecture, the placement of more comfortable chairs, a family room with a television feed, new bathrooms, the installation of elevators and handicap accessibility demonstrate modern necessities that work to foster the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge's desire to be accessible and inclusive.

In addition to the structural updates, acoustical work was needed in the sanctuary to better suit the musical style at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge. Originally the acoustics were designed to afford organ and voice projection. The surfaces were redone to acoustically accommodate electric instruments by hanging fifty curved acoustic panels that resemble clouds from the ceiling. "Music is a great way to connect with God and with people concurrently through diverse musical languages,” says VCFC's Worship Pastor Christopher Greco. "The renovations embrace a historic legacy of worship through art while at the same time innovating and adding one's own voice to the chorus.”

While the suspended panels are striking, the beauty of the vault overhead is not lost as one can still see it between the acoustic panels, which give the illusion of movement. In addition, as the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge uses performed popular music, movies and drama in its services, stage lighting, video and audio systems were installed to facilitate these performances.

The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge is one of the fastest growing churches in the Boston area, and it is the biggest new church in Cambridge.

The church was started primarily to help people seeking to explore faith or to make a spiritual connection, but who have previously not connected well with churches. The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge is known for vibrant contemporary music, a dynamic kids' church, and inspirational, relevant teachings.

The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge has a thousand attendees on Sunday mornings from diverse denominational and ethnic backgrounds from the greater Boston locale.

Sunday services are at 9am and 11pm with kids' church offered during the 9am service. The Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Cambridge also offers over twenty-five ministries and partnerships with local groups that serve the community.