They did the same thing with the little Methodist church I went to for many years. The hierarchy sold it out from under the parishioners (few in number for sure) and took out the windows (stained glass) that people had given in memory of church members, the other furniture, etc. Fortunately, a local builder bought it, put plexiglass in the windows, and found the original benches. Now a community church is in there. Good CAN come from change but it does hurt.
“.....but it does hurt”
yes, it does, and that hurt runs deep - much like a death.