Churches mix psalms with slams, renting out basements to feed pickleball fever

In the otherwise quiet halls of Oakridge Presbyterian Church in west London, Ont., on a weekday afternoon, a rhythmic thud echoes through the building. 

The church is one of several in the city that offers up space not used for worship or youth groups to pickleball players in the community.

It's a win-win: pickleball players get court time in a market that's crunched for space and churches get more people through their doors and paying fees. 

"We realized that we could make money using the empty gym during the day for the growing sport of pickleball," said Nancy Martin, a volunteer at the Oakridge Presbyterian Church who runs the pickleball court.

Martin, a player herself, had the idea to open the courts at her church in 2020 after playing pickleball with her friends in the gym of St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica. 

"It's filling a need in the neighbourhood for recreational activities and retired people can come during the day to play," she said. "It's social, physical and fun."

The at least eight churches in London that offer pickleball courts include Wesley-Knox United Church, Ridgeview Community Church and Colborne Street United Church.

"The pandemic kind of hit the churches square in the nose, and the enrolments have dropped off," said Laverne Kirkness, who co-ordinates the pickleball program at Colborne Street United Church.

He started offering $5 pickleball court rentals and clinics five months ago as a new way to help keep the church's doors open.

"Churches are in many ways reinventing themselves to be more involved in the community and in terms of providing facilities for the community," Kirkness said. 

Rentals, bookings help keep churches afloat

Oakridge Presbyterian Church offers six 90-minute time slots a day that groups can use for $35, and Martin said it's often fully booked.

Some pickleball players even book a regular time at the church. Angela Everest, for instance, plays with her friends every Monday and Friday. 

"It has high ceilings, so you don't have to worry about that and the way the courts are, you don't have to worry about hitting any side walls," Everest said. "It's so spacious, which is great."

While Everest is a member of the church, both co-ordinators said the majority of their pickleball players do not attend their respective churches. They said most players happen to live close by and have a passion for the sport.

"We find that we're kind of alone here in inner city London and we have a lot of people that are just walking here to play, then go home," said Kirkness.

He said the church gym has a more community-focused atmosphere and a cheaper cost than traditional pickleball facilities, making them appealing to novice players. 

Both co-ordinators said finding ways to become more involved in the community, outside of religious services, helps churches stay afloat. 

At Colborne Street United Church, Kirkness said renting out the facilities for school programs or concerts is the main way they generate revenue and that this is the future of churches in London. 

Martin said offering activities such as pickleball is also a good way to get the church's name out to the public.

"If they come regularly and then they find themselves with a need for a church, hopefully we will come to their mind," said Martin. "If they need a wedding, funeral, baptism or just some support, they know which church to go to because they've been in the door before."