It’s been a long road, but the new Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, is nearly completed with services scheduled to start Sunday, July 19.

    However, church members emphasize the $7 million building will become secondary once they finally move in, as it’s the 830 parishioners that make the church.

    “It’s like when a child gets a box for Christmas, that box doesn’t really matter,” said assistant pastor Jim Dorton.

    Wyoming UMC also is planning a celebration for the full opening Sept. 13.

    “We’re celebrating the culmination of a vision,” said lay leader Barbara Shaw. “It’s exciting that vision is becoming a reality.”

    The vision began eight years ago, when the church had to face the decision of whether to build a new building or add on to an existing one at 107 S. Broad St., said Jeff Townsend, campaign chair. That building suffered from a lack of space, parking and handicap access, he said.

    Although started in 1865, Wyoming United Methodist Church has moved and expanded various times, and this time church members decided to build new. However, Townsend said it wasn’t easy to find a location large enough and close by.

    “It’s the Wyoming Methodist Church, so we wanted to stay in the town of Wyoming,” explained lead pastor Patti Collett.

    After nearly a year of looking and almost settling on another property, Papen Farms Inc. decided to donate 20 acres on Wyoming Mill Road to the church, Townsend said, which since has been annexed into the town. Plans then were drawn up, taking into account all of the different groups within the church who would use the building in a variety of ways.

    Another obstacle was when the church’s selected builder went bankrupt and they had to find someone new, Collett said.

    However, with each of the hurdles, from zoning to regulations, they would stand up in the church and explain the problem to the congregation, which had members who had a useful connection or the skills to overcome the problem, church members said.

    Shaw said the obstacles actually brought them closer together as a congregation.

    “They’ve hung in there, never stopping giving, even though we never had a stick in the ground until two years ago,” said Townsend, referring to the $2.9 million raised through fundraisers and donations.

    Now, the approximately 42,000-square-foot facility, which seats 650 in the sanctuary, is finally a reality. He said the old building was approximately 14,500 square feet with room for 225 in the sanctuary, sitting shoulder to shoulder.

    With parking problems services couldn’t really have more than 150 at the old building, Collett said. They held three services for a total of 400 in attendance on average.

    “It becomes uncomfortable and very difficult so people go someplace else,” she said.

    “We have a lot of ministries…” Townsend added.

    “… and they were all tripping over each other,” Collett finished.

    The new church has two wings, on the north and south. The north wing houses the 15 Sunday school and conference rooms, church offices, nursery, and practice rooms for choir and bell choir. On the south side is the kitchen and Family Life Center, which can be used for wedding and funeral receptions or as a space for large events. The sanctuary is placed in the center of the building with the capability to video record services.

    However, it’s not all new. Townsend said they’ve brought some of the history from the old church such as donated plaques and memorials all placed in a special room. The stained glass windows from the old church also have been moved over and placed completely inside the building with backlight, and there are plans to move the bell.

    New and old, this all adds up to the possibility for church growth in size and services provided.

    “So expansion is our goal, we really want to grow into this building,” Collett said.

    Wyoming UMC has already felt the difference with its vacation Bible school, which just ended and was held in the new facility. With 80 to 90 adult helpers, more than 200 children attended, up from 160 last year.

    Collett said they want to expand their Sunday school and have more kinds of worship services tailored to different people’s needs.

    “We really believe this congregation has a lot to offer to the community,” she said.
    
     Email Jayne Gest at jayne.gest@doverpost.com.

By the Numbers:
$7 million facility
42,000 square feet, or nearly an acre, under one roof
650 seats for parishioners
225 parking spots
300 seats in the Family Life Center