Kokomo’s newest event venue hits downtown

Rhine Hall will continue church’s mission to give to community

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The Galilean Missionary Baptist Church was built in 1930 and was put into service as a soup kitchen during the Great Depression. It served the congregation and the community at 507 N. Union St. for decades.

Time took its toll on the building, and the congregation slowly dwindled. When a portion of its roof collapsed recently, the church closed its doors. But the building’s story is far from over.

In May, Stellantis employee and Realtor Gary Rhinebarger purchased the church, and by this fall Rhine Hall, an event venue and concert hall, will open in its place.

“I drove by this church for years, and never saw anything but a church,” said Rhinebarger. “But I’ve always had the mentality that a good property shouldn’t go to waste. When I drove by, I wondered, ‘What could I do with this place?’”

On one of those many trips past the church in 2021, Rhinebarger noticed a church trustee standing outside the building. He stopped and talked, and then took a look around. There was potential.

“I made an offer to buy it, and they accepted, though it took me a year and a half to get them to come round and let me buy it,” said Rhinebarger.

Once the sale was complete, Rhinebarger went to work. The roof is being repaired. The interior is being gutted and remodeled by C&H Construction, and he has plans to upgrade the kitchen to industrial standards. When he’s finished, the new Rhine Hall will sport two 4,000-square foot event floors and several support rooms. But much of the church’s character will remain intact.

“For instance, we’re saving all of the stained glass windows,” said Rhinebarger. “Camden Glass is coming to pull whole panels out, take them to Indianapolis to be restored, and bring them back. The stage and balcony seating stays, too.”

Rhinebarger hopes to open the doors for public events this fall. In fact, the Literacy Coalition of Howard County already has booked a comedy night in Rhine Hall for October. And a New Year’s celebration, featuring Duke Tumatoe and Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel, is on the schedule.

But every public event at Rhine Hall comes with a twist. Rhinebarger wants the events to partner with local charitable organizations to give something back to the community.

“Every public event we host will have a charity tagged with it,” said Rhinebarger. “We want to create partnerships. This church has given back to the community for nearly 100 years, from the time it was first built, to being a soup kitchen, to bring a church. I want to keep that giving tradition alive.”

Rhine Hall will begin taking reservations for public and private events on July 1. For additional information, contact Rhinebarger at 765-860-3758.