New Lowell United, home for the holidays
The congregation at New Lowell United Church has every intention of celebrating Christmas at its newly renovated facility.
It will most likely be the first time they have come together in the sanctuary since June when the renovation began.
Members have been meeting at the Brentwood Hall or attending church at St. John’s United in Creemore.
But last week carpenters were busy putting the finishing touches on the renovation project and volunteers were painting, in preparation for the carpet installation.
Building committee chair June Robinson said the church has received tremendous support from its members and the community at large.
The renovation is being done by Barrie based Hawkey Church Management but volunteers have done what they can to help keep costs down, said Robinson.
Many volunteers, coordinated by Tom Macham, will have put in more than 1,000 volunteer hours when the renovation is complete, including more than 250 hours put in by local retired builder Tom Garrow.
The church managed to exceed a $350,000 fundraising goal. Robinson said because they were a little while getting the project off the ground, the price went up slightly so there is still money to be raised, or the church may end up carrying a small loan.
The renovation was done with two goals in mind; to create a public meeting space and to make the church wheelchair accessible.
The 1,100 square foot addition includes a new entrance with power doors and a lift, a family washroom, new staircases to the sanctuary and lower level and a common area with coffee service station.
The common area will be available for public use.
“This congregation has been mindful that if we didn’t make it accessible to keep the congregation alive and growing, what would happen to the building?” said Robinson.
There is a lot of local history worth preserving in the old church, she said.
New Lowell United Church was established 142 years ago.
The original church was destroyed in a fire in 1908 and when it was rebuilt in 1909, all of the pews and other furnishings were built by Jacques and Hay, an American firm that established lumber mills and a factory in New Lowell.
Two stained glass windows purchased from the now-closed Avening United Church are being restored and will hang in the new common area.
Another window that was above the front door of the church has been restored by congregation members Marilyn and Lorne McLellan and will also hang in the new addition.
The Christmas Eve candlelight carol and communion service is planned for 6:30 p.m. at New Lowell United Church, with interim minister Rev. Leslie Searles.
