Center for Joy

St. Joseph’s downtown skyline is punctuated by dramatic and impressive church steeples. Though not towering above neighboring houses, this small church at 1202 Felix Street is no less impressive in its architectural detail.

The large beautiful stained glass windows create their own drama when shown viewed from the inside. It was constructed as the home of the First United Presbyterian Church in about 1901. By 1928, it was the home of a Jewish congregation and called the Ahavos Amunah Temple. The address was listed as the First Spiritualist Church in 1935. The Unity Center of Practical Spirituality was the longest running occupant of the building starting in 1936. This non-denominational church remained until it closed its doors in 2007.

The building was used as a meeting place for Narcotics Anonymous until it underwent an extensive restoration and its most recent reincarnation as the Center for JOY — Justice, Outreach and Yoga. The Yoga Room L. L. C. shares the space. The former church continues its long history as a place of spiritual nourishment, and now includes a perfectly serene environment for enhancing one’s physical well-being as well.

— with thanks to Cole Woodbury

Cross Felix street to find The Dome on the northeast corner of 12th and Felix.