Area churches continue renovation plans

The whir of saws, drills and a jackhammer has been a constant sound outside the Rev. Paul Kabo's office at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Cape Girardeau since the fall.

The church is in the midst of a major renovation and construction project that will give older and disabled members greater accessibility and create an atrium and larger classroom space.

Adding an elevator to the church building actually set the foundation for the renovation project, said Kabo. Church members have been discussing its need for nearly a decade.

By adding the elevator shaft, the church lost its courtyard garden between the sanctuary and education buildings. But it gained an atrium and a third-floor view of the Mississippi River from its education space.

New doorway entrances to the church, a canopy from the Lorimer Street entrance, a glass-enclosed area off Broadway and an expansion to the narthex also are part of the renovations.

And there are plenty of other physical upgrades that will make the project complete. New wiring, plumbing and restrooms will be added to the building which brings the total cost to more than $1 million.

But the project has been rewarding. A fund-raising firm that estimated what the church could afford set its expectations much lower than what was pledged and has been given, Kabo said.

The entire project should be complete by March.

Christ Episcopal

Around the corner from First Presbyterian, Christ Episcopal Church also has reconfigured its worship space and added more office space and classrooms.

The church moved its offices from the sanctuary building into a house just across the street. The new facility is being called the Fountain House.

"What was driving this was that we were just stumbling over each other," said the Rev. Bob Towner, rector. The church needed more worship space and were landlocked but committed to remaining downtown. "We had to use the current building and work within it."

To gain the worship space, the church moved its offices and added classroom space for both adults and youth. A vacant lot near the Fountain House became the congregation's first-ever parking lot.

"It's been 60 years since people walked to church," Towner said. "The parking was absolutely necessary. No matter what we did we had to get parking and that's a challenge for all downtown businesses and organizations."

As part of its push to add worship space, the church has tried three different furniture arrangements in its sanctuary. Everything is back to normal now, but there is likely to be a proposal soon that would create a larger entryway and gathering space and create better accessibility for the disabled.

After realizing its members couldn't maintain its aging campus, First Baptist Church voted to sell the property to Southeast Missouri State University for $3.5 million.

The university turned the church's former activities building into a student recreation center and intends to use the education space for administrative offices. The sanctuary eventually will become an alumni center.

However, the Baptist congregation has until 2005 to vacate the property at 926 Broadway.

Until then, the church is considering its options, but will likely build a new, smaller facility.

The church still continues to operate its ministries, like an after-school tutoring program with Franklin Elementary School and the Helping Hands House which offers temporary housing to families whose relatives are hospitalized for extended periods.

The church has already given $20,000 to local mission causes, which was money earmarked for that use after the sale, said the Rev. Jay White, pastor.

Second Baptist Church dedicated its new building, which was completed in 2003. The building at 285 Beaudean is only the second home for the 130-year-old black congregation.

The church had been in need of a new home for many years but didn't have the proper funding or building site at the time. The former building on Frederick Street was well over a century old and starting to deteriorate quickly when the congregation voted to build anew.

Originally, the congregation intended to rebuild at the Frederick site but the area was landlocked, and that meant no room for expansion.

The new building at Beaudean and Elm streets sits on almost two acres and includes plans for more classroom space and a full kitchen somewhere in the future.

The new facility came with about a $300,000 price tag. Most of the money for the work was raised through memorial gifts and pledges made in the "Together We Build" capital campaign.

Other projects of note:

First General Baptist Church dedicated its family life center during 2003. The building gives the congregation better classroom meeting space, a gymnasium, serving area for a kitchen and youth meeting space.

La Croix United Methodist Church is completing another phase of its construction plan and expects to finish the work by fall. The steel beams that will create the new auditorium have been visible for weeks off Lexington Avenue.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

Changing churches

Area churches that began construction projects during 2003:

Lynwood Baptist Church, 2935 Lynwood Hills Drive

Opened education annex for children and youth classrooms.

First General Baptist Church, Cape La Croix Road

Construction began for new family life center, also opened new road between parking lots at the church and La Croix United Methodist Church.

La Croix United Methodist Church, 3102 Lexington Ave.

Church joined in project with First General Baptist for a new road that connects the parking lots on both properties.

First Presbyterian Church, 235 Broadway

Plans under way for a new education wing and atrium.

Cape First (First Assembly of God), 254 S. Silver Springs Road

Moved to new location on Silver Springs Road and changed its name to emphasize its focus as a place "where families come first."

Second Missionary Baptist Church, 428 S. Frederick

Constructed building at Beaudean and Elm streets. Exterior, windows and steeple are in place.