Entering the Sacred Heart Church in Natick, a visitor with vision sees unconventional potential. 

Its pews have long since been removed, leaving behind an empty and cavernous hall where sermon-seeking devotees once congregated.

Yet a sunny day still fills the place with ample light, filtered and colored here and there through a kaleidoscopic collection of striking stained-glass windows.

Now, the 150-year-old church appears poised to be getting a new and unorthodox lease on life. Beneath its high, vaulted-style ceiling, vaults of the kinetic kind are envisioned. 

Far below those arches, circus acrobatics are a coming attraction, performers and pupils practicing among the pillars.     

Eastern Acrobatics and Circus is a school and performance center that specializes in those disciplines. The company is based in Ashland, and is in the process of purchasing the Sacred Heart Church to expand its niche curriculum.

Sacred Heart’s sanctuary, the place where priests once to stood to ply their trade, floods with a natural light that spills down into the nave. Overlooking that, a balcony looms over the church’s front entrance, hosting a colossal pipe organ. The instrument was powered by an air compressor hidden far below, and once upon a time must have echoed throughout the building.    

The church’s historical designation has made finding a buyer difficult. To retain tax advantages afforded to structures of historical significance, limits are placed on the degree and kind of renovations that may be undertaken. Interest in purchasing and converting the church into residences has waned when prospective buyers learned of such limitations.

Yet the grand hall of the church, its ornate nave, seemed to suit the circus and acrobatic company perfectly. It’s majestic and elaborate furnishings are a fitting setting to ply and promote the performance of their art form.

Randy Johnson is a senior partner at Natick’s Resolution Architects, and held part ownership of the church before its sale.

“They are obviously interested in the volume of the building,” said Johnson, referring to its spacious hall, its high and beautiful ceilings. “I think it’s a great thing for the community.”  

Jacob Skeffington, founder of Eastern Acrobatics and an instructor there, offered that there are no concrete details yet on plans for renovations, but confirmed the unique features and character of the building as its main charms and selling points.

“As artists, all of these things make it an ideal location to bring people together to learn, create, share with the community and enjoy the craft we love together.”