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Monica R. Butler grew up listening to the bells ring at the historic Second Baptist Church in St. Louis鈥� Central West End. The ringing brought her almost as much peace as the swell of gospel music streaming from the building.

鈥淚t seemed like it just calmed the area,鈥� she said on Monday鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air. 鈥淭he bells are not ringing anymore. We want the bells to ring again.鈥�

Though Butler鈥檚 family didn鈥檛 attend Second Baptist, they lived nearby. The church, most recently known as Life Cathedral Church, embodied St. Louis鈥� deep connection to gospel music. Her mother sang there with the O鈥橬eal Twins in the St. Louis Interfaith Choir. The 1982 gospel documentary "Say Amen, Somebody" captured gospel legend . And now, Butler wants the building to house her concept, the , which she envisions including a museum, recording studio and event space.

The church is in the Holy Corners district of St. Louis, renowned for its worship houses with impressive architecture. But while the 40,000-square-foot building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has sat vacant for more than a decade and . Last October, firefighters battled to in the steeple, adding to the repairs needed.

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It will cost $22 million to accomplish Butler鈥檚 dream. But that doesn鈥檛 intimidate her. Gospel music is meant to help people overcome obstacles 鈥� dilapidated buildings included.

鈥淕ospel music soothes the soul and helps heal,鈥� she said.

To develop the project, she鈥檚 partnered with the , the architecture firm behind City Foundry STL.

Butler is a TV and film producer who鈥檚 worked for Tyler Perry and on films including 鈥淭he Butler鈥� and 鈥淛urassic World.鈥� Now, she views the museum as her life鈥檚 work and aims to make it a cultural and educational hub for tourists and natives alike.

Without her project, she said gospel music artifacts, including the Second Baptist Church, will be lost.

鈥淚t holds something dear, and I just want to help bring that part back to life,鈥� she said.

鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by and produced by , and . Jane Mather-Glass is our production assistant. The audio engineer is .