SPRING VALLEY – The site of the former Spring Valley Elementary School at S200 Sabin Ave. will soon be the new home of Emmaus Church, which hopes to open its doors for Sunday service on Dec. 18. That is the tentative plan, if everything continues to go according to schedule.

The gymnasium that was attached to the school remains and a new, airy addition with windows overlooking the Eau Galle River has been built to the north. Pastor Todd Sauve estimated the gym was built in the 1970s, while the original school building had been built in 1929.

Sauve said he talked with the school district in 2019, even before the referendum to build a new elementary school, to see if purchasing the property was feasible when and if the school were to move.

Emmaus Church’s former home at W217 S. Third St. housed the congregation (formerly Spring Valley Congregational Church) for decades. The 4,000 square-foot building dated back to 1897. Its location on a hill made it tough for some parishioners to access, even with a ramp built to the front entrance.

“We had been having the conversation (as a congregation) for quite a long time, going back years, what does the future hold,” Sauve said.

The church found the gym and school site desirable because its goal is for the building to be used by the community more than one or two days a week. Its location at the heart of the village is unique.

“The vision behind this is wanting to see the building used in our community and to see this gym stay a gym,” Sauve said. “It’s right in the heart of town.”

While the gym at the new elementary school is phenomenal, Sauve said, gym time is in high demand. Keeping this gym alleviates that community need.

“We originally thought we would keep the (school) cafeteria, but the basement beneath it wouldn’t stay dry,” Sauve said. “Whenever the river came up, it flooded. So we decided to start fresh (with the new addition). The plan sort of morphed as we went along.”

Services will be held in the gymnasium. The new addition contains a kitchenette, restrooms and shower, conference room, three classrooms, a nursery, two offices and a large gathering space for community functions, fellowship and youth groups.

“Our overall hope is for this building to be a blessing to the community and to be used as much as it can be,” Sauve said. “We weren’t really interested in building a building that sat empty most hours of the week. We have a chance to have something that is good for this community and surrounding communities.”

Sauve began working at Spring Valley Congregational Church in 2010 as a youth pastor. The Spring Valley native and UWEau Claire graduate grew up in the church and credits the community youth group as a big influence on his life’s path.

In 2014, the church congregation was comprised of 20 to 30 people, but attendance has steadily grown since then to be over 100 people at a service, Sauve said. The church went through a significant transition and relaunched as part of a completely different denomination (Evangelical Free Church of America), prompting the name change to Emmaus Church.

As the congregation grew, it knew it would need a bigger space as the maximum capacity at the Third Street building was 108. Sauve said the church had good financial years from 2025-2021 and was able to save money for the new project. When the idea of a move started, the church had about $420,000, thanks to sound financial planning and gifts. A capital campaign raised another $550,000, which is amazing for a small-town church, said Sauve.

The congregation sold the Third Street building to a woodworker from Stillwater, Minn., plus the church’s former rectory across the street.

“It’s really amazing how God has provided,” Sauve said. “We wouldn’t take out a huge mortgage on a small-town church. We feel really blessed that God has provided in a lot of ways.”

Until the building is finished, Emmaus Church is holding services at 10 a.m. Sundays at Spring Valley Elementary School (1450 County Road CC). Youth groups, which are open to all community children in grades 6-12, will meet at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesdays.

A tentative community open house is planned for 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, followed by a Christmas service at 6 p.m.

To learn more about Emmaus Church, visit www.emmauschurchsv.church or find them on Facebook.