Church Plans To Buy Downriver Bowling Alley, Keep 6 Of 48 Lanes

TAYLOR (WWJ/AP) - A church that's in the process of buying a Detroit-area bowling alley plans to keep six of its 48 lanes.

Life Bridge Church is in the process of buying Taylor Lanes in Taylor. Grant Agler, teaching pastor at Life Bridge, told Mlive.com that the church had outgrown its space and needed a different spot.

The bowling alley is expected to close at the end of April and the church hopes to move in by November with a massive renovation planned, including removing all but six of 48 lanes. The church plans to allow church members and the public to use the lanes.

"One of the things that was appealing to us was the ability to be able to renovate something that was once a great facility and breathe some new life into that area," Agler told Mlive. "It's about eight or nine acres that we're buying, so we're going to renovate and help that section come back to life. Plus, we love the idea of keeping some of the lanes and allowing bowling at church and during the week. That'll give us a unique way to connect with people."

Agler says Life Bridge began as a "mobile church" in the Flat Rock area in January 2013. Its three Sunday services now draw more than 800 people total.

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