Wesley youth help throw out the first shovels of dirt, flanked by Marshfield Fire Chief Scott Owen. Hub City Times staff photo.

Rebuilding Committee Chair Terry Frankland speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony. Hub City Times staff photo.

By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The construction of a new Wesley United Methodist Church in Marshfield is officially underway. The congregation celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 8, for what will be Wesley’s new 13,300 square-foot home at the corner of Third and Maple.

Pastor Lourdes Magalhaes also used the program as a remembrance service for the one-year anniversary of the loss of their former church to a devastating fire on Sept. 2 of last year.

Pastor Lordes said:

Magalhaes was joined by former church pastors, and the United Methodist District Bishop and Superintendent, as well as Marshfield Mayor Bob McManus.

The mayor said:

The Sweet Adelines performed a praise song as part of the groundbreaking festivities, and two child members of the congregation released a monarch butterfly, representing the rebirth of the church.

Pastor Magalhaes also thanked the many community members, organizations and other churches that came forward in the aftermath of last year’s fire to help the Wesley family get back on its feet.

The pastor added:

This month the Wesley church in Marshfield celebrates 138 years in the community. The congregation built its first church in 1882 at the corner of Sixth and Central, on land donated by the Fox River Company. The congregation then bought property at its current location, and the church was physically moved to that spot. The building survived the Great Marshfield Fire of 1887, but not its own 15 years later. After several repairs and renovations, the original church was demolished in 1919, and a new one opened in 1922, followed by major renovations and additions in 1984.

The new church will be a single-story structure at 205 East Third Street, and will include office and meeting space, a nursery, a sanctuary, a multi-purpose room, classrooms for Sunday school and other classes, and office space for the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center, which had been housed at the old church. The congregation hopes to open its new home on Easter of next year, which is April 12.

Current and former pastors gather to help celebrate the Wesley groundbreaking. Hub City Times staff photo.