Sanctuary scheduled for Easter opening
CABOT — Next month's Easter Sunday service will be a special one for the congregation of Cabot United Methodist Church.
It will be the first service celebrated in its new sanctuary after 18 months of construction and weather delays.
In fact, work still won't be completely finished by April 20, according to Gary Stone, chairman of the building committee for the church at 707 Winfield Road in the former Winfield Elementary School.
“We won't be done, but we will be heading in the right direction,” said Stone. “There will still be painting and trim work to do.”
There is still drywall hanging and finishing, flooring, paint and trim and exterior masonry work to complete, said the Rev. Matt Judd, the church pastor, but the end is in sight.
Already, three stained-glass windows from the church's old location at 501 Winfield Road have been installed in the front of the sanctuary. Judd said plans call for 10 more stained-glass windows from the old building to be installed as funds allow.
Work began on the 8,000-square-foot addition built in the front of the former school in October 2012.
Judd said Arctecon, a Wexford contractor, served as construction manager for the project that involved numerous subcontractors.
“We've had 100 different guys on site doing stuff,” said Judd.
Judd said the weather has caused delays.
“The weather has not been cooperative. I think if you check the almanac it's been one of the wettest times in a long time. And of course, this last winter,” said Judd.
“Still the frustrations along the way, they've been beneficial,” said Judd. “They've been helping the congregation. We've been able to see God at work through the whole process. We feel as if we are on God's timetable, not our own.”For example, Judd said, the house of one of the carpentry subcontractor's employees was damaged by fire during the sanctuary construction.“We took a special offering and were able to give that family $1,000,” said Judd. “Another couple drove past the sanctuary construction for a year before they stopped by. Now they're attending services. He's using these things that are happening to grow us.”Judd and Stone both noted the construction has not interfered with any of the other church functions.Services, which have taken place in the school building's gym/cafeteria, remained unaffected, as has the operation of the Cabot Food Bank, which uses two rooms in the old school building.Not even the Lenten fish fries, which run 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, were affected, said Judd, who noted March 7's event set a record with 403 meals or takeout meals being dished up.In fact, Judd said, the construction has actually been helpful as it created more parking.The first phase of construction added a 145-space parking lot on the east side of the building.The Cabot Methodist congregation moved out of its old building in 2002.“We outgrew the old building,” said Stone. “They tried to build down there, but when they did soil tests, they came back unsuitable. The ground didn't have the load-bearing capacity.”The 360-member congregation will be able to use the 285-seat sanctuary for its 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services.Judd said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, the resident bishop of the Western Pa. Annual of the United Methodist Church, will visit April 27 to preach in the new sanctuary.
