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While this revival effort was in progress a survey was made of the community, and it was found that there were several families living in the surrounding area who were either Methodist or had a Methodist background. A strong need was felt for a Methodist church to serve the community. Before the close of the meeting a special effort was made to raise money to start the new church. Many friends from St. Paul and the Wytheville Circuit responded and approximately $2,000 was raised in cash and pledges. The revival closed on August 5, 1945. On this same Sunday the Quarterly Conference of the Wytheville Circuit was held at the Fairview Church, and since the new church was to be added to this circuit, the trustees for the church were elected at this conference. They were as follows: Dr. B. A. Wagnoner, C. Everette Hankle, Corbett Hamm, Ralph R. Courtney, Rupert N. Kincer, Estel L. Umberger, and John W. Felty. Every member of this Board of Trustees was present at the evangelistic meeting held that same evening and from the above list Everette Hankle was elected chairman and John W. Felty secretary and treasurer. Prior to the closing of the revival a lot was purchased from Mr. John W. Felty which was 100 by 150 feet on the corner of West North and Eighteenth Streets. This lot was a contribution from some members of St. Paul Church. The price paid for the lot was $1,000. Ground-breaking ceremonies for the new church were held on August 5, 1945, the same day the revival closed. The Reverend Mark M. Moore, District Superintendent, presided at the ceremony, and Mr. G. T. Foltz of St. Paul turned over the first shovel of dirt. Mr. John Felty, Estel L. Umberger, and Ralph R. Courtney were selected to meet with other trustees to stake off the lot.
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Only a part or the material was on the ground, but much of it was brought directly from the sawmill during the day. Some of the material that started as a saw log in the early morning was lumber in the building that afternoon.
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Mr. Semones said his job was bringing in the lumber from the sawmill using a truck provided by his employer. He said he waited at the mill for the logs to be brought in from the field. They were then run through the saws and loaded onto his truck. He would haul the newly made boards to the construction site. The lumber was so fresh, one of the carpenters joked, “ Heath, swat the squirrel off the end of that board so we can put it on the church”.
About thirty men helped either part of the day or all day. The ladies of the churches furnished the noonday meal, and so much food was brought it was found there was enough left to serve supper on the grounds. It was a bright sunny day and there was an air of excitement and satisfaction among the workers. At dusk, the new part of the building was completed with the exception of putting roofing over the sheathing. Lights were installed and a few benches were brought in.
| A Bible was borrowed from the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Cassell. Reverend W. S. Steele, pastor of the circuit, conducted prayer meeting that night with his working coveralls on, as he had worked during the day. The service that evening was very impressive and God’s presence seemed very near in the church that night. |
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