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Finishing touches added to Family Church

Rising?from the?ashes

Submitted Photo A new sign has been installed in front of the Family Church in Fredonia.

Just in time for the Christmas season, Fredonia Family Church is putting the finishing touches on their recently restored building, where the congregation has been gathering since it officially reopened on Sept. 1.

On Tuesday, one of the last exterior finishing touches was completed: the installation of the new sign. Like the clock, which was installed in July, the lettering on the sign will be backlit. “There are still two or three projects we’re wrapping up on the inside,” Wise added. “We’re replacing the balcony railing, and there are some doors we need to replace because they swelled due to water damage and the shifting of the building.” Future plans also include a wheelchair lift at the street entrance to make the building more accessible.

The building, which lost its steeple and portions of the roof in a fire on May 4, 2018, has been the home of Fredonia Family Church since 2015, but has been a place of worship in the community since 1853.

Associate Pastor Scott Wise explained that the building is constructed in two portions: the original 1853 section and an addition on the back of the building that was added in the 1960s. “Following the fire, everything in the 1853 portion had to be completely gutted and replaced,” he said. “The majority of it was water damaged, and the attic and above was damaged by fire. From attic to basement, we were down to the original plaster or studs and had to replace everything.”

The restoration project allowed the church to create a new space to suit their needs and technology, which is significant, as the sanctuary hadn’t been remodeled for nearly 100 years. “For our worship services, there were spaces we didn’t need and items we didn’t use,” Wise recalled. “It allowed us to really take advantage of this and start from scratch to make it what we needed it to be while also tying into the history of the building. We modernized it, but we didn’t lose the history of the space.”

This photo shows the interior of the Family Church.

What is the status of the congregation’s former building on Lakeview Avenue? “Our Lakeview building is still up for sale,” Wise explained. “Right now we’re renting it to another church, the Outpour Church of God (formerly the Christian Worship Center on Eagle Street). It was really divine timing. They needed a building a couple weeks after we moved out of our building. They needed a place to meet, and they came to us. They love what we do, and we love what they do. It’s been a great relationship, and we’re really happy the building can be used, especially in the winter months.”

This coming winter, Wise and Pastor Michael Lokietek are looking forward to Fredonia Family Church’s Christmas events, which are open to the public.

On Friday, Dec. 20, the church is hosting Kids Night, when children are invited to decorate Christmas cookies and enjoy a movie. On Sunday, Dec. 22, the church is having a special Christmas services with songs and a potluck lunch after the service.

“In 2020, we’ll be working out plans to start tours of the building at various times,” Wise added. “A lot of folks in the community are excited to see the church. In the meantime, everyone is welcome to see it during our Sunday morning services, which start at 10 a.m.”

For more information about Fredonia Family Church, including upcoming events, follow Fredonia Family Church on Facebook or visit their website at fcfredonia.org.

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