"'Every day, another church is sold,' said Lilian Grootswagers-Theuns, the president of the advisory board for Future for Religious Heritage.... 'This is happening everywhere in Europe...'"

"'... in Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy. It’s already going very fast,' she said. 'But now we’re going fast-forward. Now, there’s a tsunami coming.' Churches, once central to European cultural life, were typically situated in the heart of a city and built to last. 'Before you even had the nations, you had a European tradition going back to the fourth century of having a church for each city, each village,' said Barbara Welzel, a professor of art history and cultural education.... These days, parishes may merge or unused churches be sold for private use, like homes or hotels. Sometimes communities rally to save their local church buildings and use them as tourist sites, cultural venues or health care centers. Some priests simply walk away. 'In some churches, they really throw away the key,” [Hedwig Fijen, the director of the 'roving art biennial' Manifesta, said.] 'I’ve found sacred objects in the garbage bin.'"

From "What to Do With Europe’s 'Zombie Churches'? These Artists Have Some Ideas. As the continent’s ties to Christianity fade, churches are being abandoned. But some see a chance to transform them into communal spaces like care centers or venues for the arts" (NYT gift link).