Jul 8, 2008 7:50 am US/Central
Pastor Builds Lego Church, Seats Batman, SpongeBob
BRANDON, Wis. (AP) ―
For a 134-year-old church, Emanuel Lutheran features some unusual worshippers in a model that mixes realistic details with whimsical touches -- like the Batmobile parked outside.
The church made from more than 12,000 Lego bricks by the Rev. Stuart Dornfeld has little toy people scattered inside, including recognizable facsimiles of SpongeBob SquarePants, Indiana Jones and Batman.
"We've had some famous members, it's true," Dornfeld deadpanned.
Dornfeld, who is married and has two young daughters, said he was inspired last year when he saw an exhibit of Lego artist Nathan Sawaya's work at the Children's Museum of Appleton.
He spent two or three hours a week over six months to create the church model from the toy building blocks.
"I was looking for a challenge, and I wanted to build something from real life," Dornfeld said.
The model is 27 inches tall, 48 inches long and 17 inches wide. It includes 30 pews, 15 stained-glass windows, two pianos and an organ. The altar has a tiny candelabra with flames. The preacher wears a robe made from a white sock.
"I spent a lot of time on the miniature steeple because I knew it was important to our congregation, historically. This one has a bell and a rope and it really works," Dornfeld said.
The pastor said the project helped him reduce the stress from working so closely with his congregation.
"It can be stressful dealing with the realities of people's lives," he said. "It brought me peace and it brings others joy."
The model was on display for about a month, said Annette Raube, a member of the congregation.
"From what I've heard from others, everyone enjoys it, and they enjoy the pastor we've had these last three years," she said. "He's been instrumental in bringing in quite a few new members."
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