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Whitney Anderson is renovating a former Methodist church in Michigan, built in 1898, into a home she calls a “chouse.” She negotiated the church and parsonage purchase to $45,000 and has put close to $200,000 in cash flow toward renovations, according to Hunker’s account of reporting by CNBC Make It. The project is ongoing, and Anderson says its financial sustainability is still uncertain.
Whitney Anderson is converting an abandoned 1898 Methodist church in Michigan into a home, a demanding renovation she has documented online under the name “chouse,” a combination of church and house. Anderson bought the property, which included a parsonage, for $45,000 after negotiating down from a $125,000 asking price, according to Hunker’s account of a CNBC Make It interview.
The former church still had its altar, pews and bell tower when Anderson took it on. She told CNBC Make It that her interest in stained glass began in childhood and helped motivate her search for a church to renovate. The project involves preserving features with historic character while addressing structural problems and water damage.
Hunker reported that Anderson saved $250,000 over several years before searching for a property and paid cash for the negotiated purchase. She has undertaken demolition and most of the flooring work herself, while hiring help for work such as water-damage repairs. According to the report, renovation cash flow has reached close to $200,000.
Anderson’s Instagram account, @houseofvitrail, helped bring sponsorships and access to free materials and labor, Hunker reported. Her renovation journey also led to an appearance on the Magnolia Network program Home Reimagined. The project remains underway; the available account does not say the church is finished or ready for occupancy.
The Cost of a Church Conversion
Anderson’s project shows the gap between a low purchase price and the full cost of making an unusual property usable. While the church and parsonage cost $45,000, reported renovation cash flow is close to $200,000, with structural work and water damage among the challenges. A buyer considering a similar building would need to account for repairs, specialist labor and the uncertainty of uncovering problems during construction.
The project also illustrates how a renovation can draw on more than savings. Anderson’s online following and television appearance brought sponsorships and donated materials or labor, according to Hunker. Those resources are not guaranteed for other renovators, so the project’s reported costs and funding should not be treated as a typical budget for a church conversion.
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From Parsonage Listing to Chouse
The church was built in 1898 as a Methodist place of worship. Anderson, originally from New York City, found it through a listing for a parsonage in Michigan that came with the church, Hunker reported. The asking price was $125,000; she negotiated it down to $45,000.
Before buying, Anderson had spent years saving, according to the CNBC Make It reporting cited by Hunker. Paying cash avoided a mortgage payment, while doing demolition and much of the flooring herself helped limit some expenses. The project gained wider attention through her Instagram documentation and the Magnolia Network appearance. Hunker’s report also cautioned that her circumstances—including substantial savings and promotional support—may not be available to most buyers.
““It’s still 50/50 if this is going to be a sustainable chouse … or if it’s going to be what bankrupts me.””
— Whitney Anderson, in a video interview with CNBC Make It, as quoted by Hunker
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Repairs and Costs Still Ahead
The source account does not provide a completion date, a final renovation budget or a detailed breakdown of the close-to-$200,000 figure. It is also unclear which structural repairs have been completed, what work remains, or whether the building has received any approvals needed for residential use. Anderson herself described the project’s long-term financial sustainability as uncertain.
The reported savings, sponsorships and donated resources are specific to Anderson’s experience. The available information does not establish how much of the project’s cost was paid directly by her, covered through sponsorships, or offset by free materials and labor.
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Completion and Final Costs
Anderson’s renovation is continuing, but the source report does not identify a next construction milestone or scheduled opening. The next useful updates would clarify which repairs remain, when the church can function as a home, and what the finished project ultimately costs. Until then, the conversion’s completion and financial outcome remain open.
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Key Questions
Who is renovating the former church?
Whitney Anderson is converting the Michigan church into a home she calls a “chouse.” She has documented the project on Instagram as @houseofvitrail.
How much did Anderson pay for the property?
According to Hunker, Anderson negotiated the price for the church and parsonage to $45,000, down from a $125,000 listing price, and paid cash.
How much has the renovation cost?
Hunker reported that renovation cash flow reached close to $200,000. The report does not give a final budget or a complete account of how expenses were divided among Anderson, sponsorships and donated materials or labor.
Is the church conversion finished?
No completion is reported. The renovation is still in progress, and the available account does not provide a move-in date or list of remaining work.
What makes the project financially unusual?
Anderson reportedly saved $250,000 over several years, paid cash for the property and did some work herself. Her social media following also brought sponsorships and free materials or labor, resources that may not be available to other renovators.
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