Portland church-turned-event center heads to auction

A large space has a high ceiling, posts and balconies.

Photo / Courtesy Tranzon Auction Properties Dating to 1836, the former church is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Portland’s few surviving examples of early Gothic Revival architecture.

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By Laurie Schreiber

The owner of a historic church in Portland is looking to sell the property by auction, after traditional listing channels failed to find a taker.

Tranzon Auction Properties said auction of the former church — now a mixed-use property — is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.

It is at 15 Chestnut St., adjacent to Portland City Hall.

For years, the property has been owned, maintained and operated by Anne Rutherford, who decided the time is right to move on, according to a news release.

An old brick church and other bulldings line a street.

Photo / Courtesy Tranzon Auction Properties

The former church is next door to Portland City Hall.

“This building has been such a rewarding part of my life,” said Rutherford. “It has served me well, and the memories and successes we’ve had here are indelible. But now, I’m ready to pass on its legacy to someone who will take it further. The auction is a choice — a deliberate, transparent way to welcome a new steward for this landmark.”

Traditional channels

Before choosing to auction, the property was listed through traditional channels with Bryan Plourde of the Dunham Group acting as the previous listing agent. The listing generated “meaningful interest and conversations,” but no offer ultimately materialized, Plourde said.

Recognizing the owner’s readiness for change, Plourde recommended Tranzon’s auction platform as a next step.

“We had the property listed for some time and generated a lot of meaningful interest and conversations,” he said. “While those discussions didn’t ultimately lead to an offer, they reaffirmed how special this asset is. When Anne made it clear she was ready to make a change, I recommended Tranzon as a strong option. The auction format gives the property the focused attention and momentum it deserves, while giving Anne a clear path forward.”

Stained glass, cathedral ceiling

Dating back to 1836, it was known for over 160 years as the Chestnut Street Church.

It was once abandoned and later repurposed as the Grace Restaurant and Trine Events. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Portland’s few surviving examples of early Gothic Revival architecture.

It is also one of the few surviving examples of the work of Charles Alexander, a local architect of the 1850s and 1860s.

The church survived the Great Fire of 1866, which destroyed half of the city’s churches and commercial buildings.

The church was abandoned in 2005 and stood vacant for several years.

Rutherford, a local restaurateur, bought it in 2007 and invested $2 million into a restoration that transformed the space into a 14,358-square-foot restaurant called Grace, which opened in 2009.

A red double door is set in a brick facade.

FILE PHOTO / COURTESY CHRIS KEELEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Grace Restaurant and Trine Events, in a former church in downtown Portland, is on the market for $3.73 million.

The redesign honored the integrity of the structure — including 27 historic stained glass windows, restored woodwork, exposed beams and cathedral ceilings — while introducing updates, including a restaurant kitchen and custom circular bar. She located an open kitchen at the former altar.

In 2019, the business focus shifted to being an event venue, Trine Events at Grace.

‘Unrepeatable’

Tranzon is billing the property as a “rare Portland investment: historic, flexible, unrepeatable” that has potential for dining, events, residential or mixed-use redevelopment. Most of the furniture, fixture and equipment are included in the listing.

A 10% buyer's premium will be charged based on the high bid. The property will be sold as is. A $25,000 deposit, potentially increased to equal 10% of the high bid plus the buyer's premium, will be due within 24 hours of the auction.

According to Tranzon, properties like this, “steeped in history and offering unique potential,” often benefit from the energy and structure of a competitive bidding process. Auctions can cut through uncertainty, provide a defined timeline and bring committed buyers to the table, the company said.

“Auctions are especially powerful for singular and complex assets,” said Mike Carey, Tranzon’s co-CEO. “They bring energy, urgency and a competitive environment that cuts through the noise. For buyers, it’s a clear, scheduled event with full transparency. For sellers like Ms. Rutherford, it’s a way to move forward decisively, secure in the knowledge that the property’s worth will be tested in the marketplace.”