St. Marys UMC new sanctuary to open

ST. MARYS - It's a merger of the old and the new.

Wayne Street United Methodist Church, located in St. Marys since 1823, is about to finish a building project that brings new ideas like technology and ease of use together in a design that pays homage to tradition.

The church sanctuary was razed and is now a parking lot. A new sanctuary was built on the opposite side of the education wing. The new sanctuary can hold many more people - about 400 as opposed to about 250, said Bill Huber, a member who serves on the building committee. While it is new construction, the room has character in the form of fixtures brought from the old church. Two large stained glass windows flank the altar, and they are from the 1911 church building. Smaller stained glass windows placed in the choir room and at the entrance are from the 1867 building.

The cross at the front is from the old sanctuary, and the organ and pipes were refurbished and installed.

"We've tried to keep a lot of the old," Huber said.

The pews are new, although they are in a traditional style. The old sanctuary's floor was slanted, so the pews couldn't be retrofitted to fit a flat floor, Huber explained. There are also some chairs in the sanctuary, again mixing old with new styles.

One brand new item is the audio/video area in the back of the church, the control booth so to speak for the two large video screens at the front of the church and one in the rear. The church has added a contemporary service to its regular Sunday morning schedule.

Designed and constructed by The McKnight Group, of Grove City, the new sanctuary opens onto the church's Fellowship Hall - which will be used as a gathering area before and after services. A drop-off area with canopy is also featured at the new front entrance.

Roe Watkins, of Greenville, works for The McKnight Group.

"This is the first one I've done in a long time that actually had pews in it," Watkins said. "But we do all kinds. I'm just glad the people are happy - that's the main thing."

The $3.3 million project went very smoothly, Huber said. Crews broke ground last May, and the sanctuary was under roof quickly so work could steadily continue through winter. Church members who were in the construction, plumbing and painting businesses also contributed to the project. The church has used Memorial High School for services since last June.

The work progressed quicker than expected.

"I think we had spiritual guidance, and I'm convinced of it," Huber said.

They even relocated the old bell that was nearly lost to history. When the church was busy on its 1911 building project, a man who lived across the street agreed to donate a large sum of money - if they removed the bell from its tower. He apparently didn't appreciate its ringing in the morning, Huber said, laughing.

Wayne Street United Methodist Church is part of the St. Marys Circuit, and has been for about two years. Pastors are shared among this church, Grace United Methodist Church in St. Marys and Walnut Grove United Methodist Church between St. Marys and Spencerville. Word spread about the building project, and a member of Walnut Grove had some information to share. Phil Dosek had the bell tucked away in his barn and returned it to the church.

"The bell and the mounting took up the better part of the back of a pickup truck," Huber said.

Huber, who grew up in the church, said it was sad to see the old sanctuary go but it was necessary. The beauty and functionality of the new construction help the transition.

"Our mission is to reach the unchurched. The building isn't going to accomplish that - it's what's in this building," Huber said.

Wayne Street United Methodist Church

130 N. Wayne St., St. Marys

The Rev. Ed Groff, senior pastor

The Rev. John Kraner, associate pastor

Schedule

8:30 a.m.: First Light (traditional service)

9:30 a.m.: Sunday school

10:45 a.m.: Awaken (progressive service)

• An open house for the new church is 1 to 4 p.m. May 17.

• Bishop Bruce Ough, of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, will lead the congregation in a consecration service on May 31.