Bethany Covenant, the 'Donut Church,' opens Easter at Dimples Donuts in St. Charles

On Easter Sunday April 9, Bethany Covenant Church, affectionately known by its members as "the donut church," will celebrate its grand opening in a space it shares with Dimples Donuts in St. Charles.

It will be 11 a.m. to noon at the shop, 1307 E. Main St.

The doughnut shop which initially opened in 2017, is owned by Sovannary Vong (Nary), baker and owner of Dimples Donuts in Batavia, a regional favorite for the past 30 years.

The relationship between the shop and the church began after a burst pipe in 2022 damaged the dining area of the restaurant.

"We began to help Nary with the restoration and an opportunity was presented to share the space," said Laura Tarro, licensed pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, whose husband, Capt. Jeff Tarro, was one of the first responders the night of the emergency call.

"I think we've been surprised and delighted by the idea of hosting in a doughnut shop," Pastor Laura added. "It's been really fun to see our people embrace it as part of our church identity."

From serving a monthly meal at Lazarus House in St. Charles, to weekly communion and a monthly "brunch church," food has played a significant role in the formation of this new congregation.

Featuring comfortable couches, coffee tables, floating bookshelves and eclectic art, the worship space has been designed to perform double-duty.

"Our hope is the community will enjoy this cafe space during the week and that they will be thinking about joining us on Sunday mornings as a next level of connection," Pastor Laura explained about the church which started in September of 2022.

"All are welcome," said Pastor Laura. "We hope to provide a place of hope, healing and connection." (And occasionally doughnuts.) It's a pretty sweet deal.