[09/25/02]The Church of the Holy Trinity and United Way of West Central Mississippi, neighbors on South Street, are moving toward an agreement for the church to acquire the United Way building.

Part of the two-story building adjacent to the historic church would be used for church functions. The remainder would continue to be used for United Way operations.

Members of the governing boards of Holy Trinity and the United Way on Tuesday called the arrangement an agreement in principle.

“Holy Trinity has made an offer for the purchase of the building,” said Bryan Brabston, a member of the United Way Board, adding United Way officials have tentatively approved.

“We are in deep, very serious negotiations but we have not got a deal,” said Joe Graham, a member of the Vestry of Holy Trinity.

Graham said the matter must be presented to officials of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi before the local church can act. “We can’t do that until Oct. 17,” Graham said.

If the sale is completed, Graham said the Church of the Holy Trinity plans to use part of the United Way building for its Parish House functions.

He said the present Parish House, adjacent to the church and facing Monroe Street, was built in the 1930s and has structural problems.

“We’ve known for a long time we would have to tear it down and replace the building,” Graham said.

He said if the sale goes through, Holy Trinity would not occupy the building for at least months and perhaps two years.

Graham said it was his understanding the United Way would continue to occupy its offices and pay rent to the church.

The United Way building is at South’s intersection with Cherry street and was built by owners of The Vicksburg Post and used as the newspaper’s offices from 1952 until 1996.

In 1997, members of the Cashman family, who own Vicksburg Printing and Publishing Company, donated the building to United Way. The second floor of the building was renovated into office and conference space for staff of the combined charity campaign. Part of the first floor of the building is rented to other occupants, and the new Storehouse Community Food Pantry operates in a former warehouse area of the building.