In order to do so, they plan to purchase the house that is located on the adjacent lot east of the church. Although expansion plans are not included in this first phase, acquiring the property is a necessary step in the process. Aside from the necessary structural changes to the original part of the church, the first phase does include extensive updates to the current parking lot and handicap accessible ramp. The current ramp is too steep and too close to the three foot drop onto Cale Street. A new plan includes handicap accessible access from any of the church entrances with one being covered to provide protection from inclement weather. New steps and a vestibule area will replace the current entrance directly on the corner of Oak and Cale Streets. An expansive court yard area with wider steps and an ADA compliant ramp is planned for the Cale Street entrance. The roofline will be extended on the buildings south side to cover a new ramp. A rounded drive will allow visitors to be dropped off underneath the roof’s protection at the mouth of the new ramp. “When the current church was built in 1904, they built the best church they could build. Our goal is to make the church fully accessible for all people to keep the church going for the next 100 years. We want to make the best church we can build,” Pastor Paul said. They understand the commitment it will take to raise the desired amount of funds to do the necessary improvements. Church members have been offered commitment cards to pledge monthly donations over the next three years in order to secure funds. Donations can be in the form of monthly pledges, stock transfer or by donating grain. Perhaps the most exciting is the announcement that a private donor has already agreed to match donations up to $150,000. It’s been 42 years since St. Paul’s last capital campaign. Pastor Paul feels very positive that their needs will be met. “We want St. Paul’s to be for everyone. I feel the trustees were guided by God in their decision to go this direction instead of building a new church somewhere else,” he said. Once the capital campaign ends June 1, Pastor Paul hopes construction on the proposed changes can begin this summer. He estimates construction should only last a few months. That will give church leaders plenty of time to plan for the church’s bicentennial celebration next year.
2016 Pictures taken by Laura J. Newman
St. Paul’s UMC History
74
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker