Church is a place people gather and bow their heads in worship, but one Whittier church may soon become a place people lay their heads down at night.

The First Christian Church of Whittier may soon become senior housing.

Pews used to be packed, but now just 40 people show up Sunday mornings. So, a majority of the congregation voted to allow non-profit developer Christian Church Homes to convert the space into 70 senior units.

Congregants like Ruth Shannon will have a hard time letting the church go.

“I don’t like that too much,” Shanon said. “I am just hoping that this church will remain being a church. It has been on this corner, actually the sign out there says 1923. That’s the year I was born, which means we’re 95 years old.”

Shannon’s three children all grew up in the church. Her daughter Kathy was married there. Her memories span decades since becoming a member in 1951.

Back then, the pews at First Christian Church of Whittier were usually packed. Nowadays, only about 40 people show up most Sunday mornings. So the church has voted to close its doors at the end of the year.

But Reverend Layne Beamer says the building is becoming too much to maintain. He thinks the plan is the best way to serve the community, especially seniors who are in need of affordable housing.

“Jesus talked about those people as the widows and orphans. He said you got to take care of the widows and orphans,” Reverend Beamer said.

“This way we really do believe that we’re ministering to sort of the widows and orphans, the some of the least and last and lost out there. Because our society doesn’t spend a lot of time taking care of our senior saints.”

As the Whittier city council debates the proposal, the congregation is deciding whether to rent a smaller space or join a local church.