BRYAN — The archway outside the old building on West Butler Street contains the words: “Bidden or not God is present.”

The words were a testament to God’s omnipresence for parishioners of the town’s Methodist church when it was built in 1895.

Today the words still ring true for the owner of the building, Dr. John Trippy.

“God is still very much present here,” he says.

It seems to be a strange sentiment considering the former Methodist, then Baptist church has been turned into Father John’s Brewing Co., but the spiritual energy is very much present when stepping through the main doors.

The sanctuary, which Trippy restored, is still a focal point of the building. He uses it to host musical performances and comedians. But it also still serves a religious purpose.

“I had a lady tell me once, ‘I was baptized when it was a Methodist church. I was married when it was a Baptist church. I’d like to be buried in the old Baptist church.’ We had her funeral here three or four months ago,” Trippy says.

It’s been an unlikely journey for the retired oral surgeon.

“About 15 years ago, they were trying to get rid of this place and the rumors were that they were going to tear it down. I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, but I didn’t want to lose another structure,” he says.

About five years ago, he was inspired by a text from a friend who knew he was struggling with what to do with the old building he had purchased. The text was a quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Weeks later he traveled to Rome to follow the life path of Assisi, a 12th century Roman Catholic friar. When he returned, he had a clearer vision of how he could turn the building into a community gathering place. About three years ago, Father John’s opened, complete with a restaurant, a full menu of the brewery’s craft beers, and statues and paintings inspired by his trip across Europe. Icons from religions around the world are everywhere.

A Buddha presides over the brewpub’s 16 taps. The stone bar is formed in the shape of the cross.

“All the chairs around the bar are different. They represent all the people we bring into our life. Some are old, some are good, bad. It’s a way of saying that pretty much everyone is welcome at our bar,” Trippy says.

Originally envisioned as a self-brew facility, Father John’s has morphed into a full-fledged brewery that pumps out up to 25 kegs of craft beer a week in the summer.

The brewery’s religious-themed offerings include the Black Friar oatmeal stout, Bad Habit IPA, Knotty Nunn red ale, Heaven & Earth citrus wheat, and even a jalapeño beer named Hell’s Fire. Brewer Doug Jacobs is now working on a cheese beer.

“In the industry today, you need to be different. You can’t be making what everyone else is making. You need to make something different like Hell’s Fire that’s radical, way out there,” Jacobs says.

Self-brewers are also still a big part of the business, with reservations accepted to churn out 22-ounce bottles to take home.

Besides Father John’s, Trippy is also refurbishing Bryan’s train station and purchased a granary, which he hopes will eventually house another craft beer production facility. For years, he had his practice in town, and in Defiance and Wauseon. While many businessmen might shun investments in a small town, Trippy has embraced the opportunity.

“Years ago, I remember driving through Bryan on Christmas Eve, coming home from college at Ohio State, and the courthouse square was lit up with Christmas lights. I said, ‘You know what? This is a place I could live.’ And I ended up living here. It was such an idyllic little town,” Trippy says. “This town has always been good to me.”

Beer of the month

The Marty, a Belgian blonde ale with an ABV of 6.5 percent, is the flagship beer of Toledo’s Black Cloister Brewing Co.

Made with Ardennes yeast, Pilsen malt, and Saaz hops, the Marty has a distinct clove and banana taste that becomes richer as the beer warms.

“It’s a very approachable beer that doesn’t have the overwhelming fruity notes that Belgians are known for,” Black Cloister CEO Tom Schaeffer said. “A good craft beer is an experience. This isn’t the type of beer you’re hammering back while watching a football game.”

The beer will be featured at SAVOR, a craft beer and food pairing event in Washington on June 3 and 4. It will be paired with salt cod croquette, parsley, and caper. Black Cloister’s Icon, an imperial stout, also will be featured at the event. It will be paired with chocolate-crusted tri-tip and espresso poached potato.

‘Hounds’ fund-raiser

The Glass City Mashers home-brewing club is holding a fund-raiser for the Toledo Area Humane Society called “Homebrews for Hounds.”

Prepackaged kits for a German Altbier named “Clifford the Big Red Alt” can be picked up at Titgemeier’s Feed and Garden Store, 701 Western Ave., until June 8. Kits can also be purchased at the Mashers’ next meeting on June 8 at the Hungarian Club, 224 Paine Ave. All proceeds go to the Humane Society.

Contact Brian Dugger at: bdugger@theblade.com or on Twitter @DuggerCountry.

First Published May 12, 2016, 4:00 a.m.