St. Paul United Methodist Church is sturdy - a fixture since World War II - but stone-cold quiet, due to a dying membership.

The circumstance seemed so grim, one of the oldest patrons melted into a teary mess recently when asked about the imminent closure.

But now, thanks to the dozen determined church cheerleaders - and a news story chronicling the congregation's fate - people are crying for a different reason:

Hope.

On a recent Sunday, unfamiliar kid-toting families came through the church doors - doubling the regular turnout.

"I turned around and people just kept coming in," said Alicia Martinez-Madsen, who married in St. Paul two years ago and now commutes from Herriman. "Tears were streaming down my face. It was overwhelming."

Response also has come from an a cappella group known as Sotto Voce, veterans of Salt Lake City's Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir, who once performed for Pope John Paul II.

"We were really moved," said Jerry Parkstone, a singer for the quartet who also works for the Madeleine Choir School. "When our alto read the article, she said she was in tears."

Within days, the choir agreed to sing in the Copperton church after an April 22 open house. All proceeds will go to St. Paul.

"We're going to do everything we can to help them hang on a little bit longer," Parkstone pledged.

On another front, a professor from Utah Valley State College in Orem hopes his history department will allow students to complete a written history on the church. He also vows to volunteer his classes for future church projects such as painting or landscaping.

"We sometimes don't hang on to the old things that have such great value," said Boyd Bauer, director of UVSC's Institute for International Understanding. "I just hate to see any symbols of religious heritage that are important to a group of people past or present go by the wayside."

The predicament also got the attention of a Kearns Historical Society official, who is now working to get the church placed on the Utah Historical Register. Once included on that register, St. Paul would qualify for extra funding for building repairs.

The Copperton chapel, a former favorite for "Touched by an Angel" TV film crews, needs $26,000 a year to survive but has only $4,000. The Rocky Mountain Conference, which expects Methodist congregations to remain solvent and number at least 50, has given the church six months to remedy the problem.

Carol Loftin, the church's pastor, hopes to draw more wedding parties to raise money. She says the chapel and matching white gazebo set at the base of the Oquirrhs make a perfect setting.

Since news of the budget squeeze hit the community, the deacon at Copperton's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church has promised to turn couples St. Paul's way. He also will explore ways for the two churches to share services.

Potential parishioners also are intrigued.

According to Loftin, a man from Holladay said he "felt drawn" after reading the article. He plans to attend this month. A retired schoolteacher from West Valley City has offered her assistance. And another woman from Magna has inquired about teaching Sunday school at the church.

"What tickles me the most is it's from all over the valley, and it's not from any particular denomination," Loftin said. "It's been such a big community outreach. I had no idea."

Other strategy includes offering a summer Bible retreat, designed to introduce new families to the historical building. The bantam band of regulars also may appeal to Kennecott Utah Copper Corp., the primary employer for a generation of St. Paul patrons. If couched with historical preservation, Loftin notes, such donations may be possible.

If not, members may call on a one-woman industry. According to 50-year churchgoer Rosella Rauer, the faithful forwarded a copy of the story to Oprah Winfrey.

"We was hoping maybe she'd donate something," Rauer said. "You never know."