At the end of the conference year 1949-50, the church indebtedness had been reduced to $6,125.00. In 1950-52, by special effort, the debt was reduced to $4,550.00, and in 1951-52, the balance was reduced to $2,700.00. Barnett and Porterfield Funeral Homes presented fifty folding chairs to the church.

Paying off the note.
Church Treasurer, E. B. Pagett, Heath Semones
Tellers: Perry Dave, Hayden Auston

With the debt paid, plans were made for the dedication service. Bishop Roy Short dedicated the church in an impressive ceremony on January 17, 1954. A reception was held in the church basement in the afternoon. This is a copy of the bulliten from the Service of Dedication. Click on the photo on the right to see the entire program.

With the building debt now paid, the church turned to another needed project. The furnace was too small to heat the church so a need was felt for a better heating plant. The appointed committee decided on a gas furnace to replace the coal furnace. This was installed by the Wytheville Bottle Gas Company at a cost of $1,394.00.

In July of 1954, the Reverend Holdredge answered a call to teach at Ferrum Junior College at Ferrum, Virginia. The Reverend W. O. Webster came as pastor of the Wytheville Circuit.

On March 24, 1955, a group of men from churches of the circuit met at the District parsonage, and a plan was presented by District Superintendent Marvin Kincheloe for the division of the circuit, putting Mt. Ephraim and New Bethel on the Rural retreat Circuit, and leaving West End, Cedar Hill, and Evergreen on the Wytheville Circuit. At the Fourth Quarterly Conference on March 27, 1955, this plan was rejected and a substitute plan presented. This plan was to make West End and Bethel Church on the Mt Pleasant Circuit a two point charge, leaving four churches on the Wytheville Circuit. Bethel voted not to leave the Mt Pleasant Circuit. The possibility of making West End a station church was then proposed and voted and passed by the congregation by a large majority. At Annual Conference, June, 1955, West End was made a station church.

A lot had previously been purchased adjoining the church property, and ground was broken for a new parsonage on May 30, 1955. Immediately following conference, work was begun on the parsonage. Hugh Grubb was made chairman of the building committee. F. W. Neese was made chairman of the finance committee. At a special dinner in the church basement, the program concerning the building of the parsonage was presented to the congregation. Pledges were secured at this meeting, and in a visitation campaign which followed which was sufficient to meet the requirements for the beginning of construction.

Materials were secured and the parsonage construction was soon underway. Much of the labor was donated, thereby reducing the cost of the building. Then parsonage, when completed, was valued at $13,500.00. In order to furnish the parsonage adequately and completely, different classes in Sunday School agreed to furnish the different rooms. The cost of furnishing the kitchen was included in the construction. The Methodist Youth Fellowship furnished the dining room. The Willing Workers Class furnished one bedroom, and the Fellowship Class furnished the living room. The parsonage was completed and the pastor and family moved in October 14, 1955.

In early May, 1958 the Reverend Robert Shelly transferred to the Florida Conference.