Submitted Photo The Wesley Community Church broke ground this past weekend on its new building in Dayton. Pictured from left to right: Bryon Ivett, Trustee Chairman; Ken Gerwitz, Trustee; Glen Morey, Trustee; Wes Tessey, Pastor; and David Allen, Church Council Chairman.

Special to the OBSERVER

DAYTON — Last weekend, congregants of the Wesley Community Church, along with friends from other congregations, gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Church’s new building.

The ceremony was held at the west end of the hay field across the road from the Park Lawn Cemetery, on the Wesley end of Markham Wesley Road in the Township of Dayton. Speakers for the ceremony included Pastor of the Wesley Church Wes Tessey, Church Council President David Allen, and Building Team Chair Judy Brooks. Music was provided by Doug Allen, the former national anthem singer for the Buffalo Sabres.

The Wesley Community Church is growing and looking forward to ministry opportunities that a new building will offer them. The original church was built in 1875, located on Route 353 between Cattaraugus and Dayton. It has been well loved and well used over the last 150 years, however, with the growth of the congregation and the desire to offer new ministries to the community, a new church will be built with many amenities the congregation has never had before. Among the additions will be a kitchen and an office for the Pastor. The building will be handicap accessible and features a larger parking lot.

The new building project has a budget set for $500,000, as members of the Church have been raising funds for the past year. Without any outside agency or grant funding, the Church has already raised $332,000 for the project.

Donations are graciously accepted by mail to PO Box 144, Cattaraugus, NY, 14719.