By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Wesley United Methodist Church congregation worshipped in its brand new facility in downtown Marshfield on July 5.

Pastor Lourdes Magalhaes says the construction phase of the new church at 205 East Third Street, Marshfied, has officially wrapped up.

Kristen Van Ness relaxes in the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center. Hub City Times staff photo

“We just got the occupancy permit from the city inspectors and the insurance inspectors, so we are now in the process of moving our stuff from storage,” she said.

Terry Frankland headed the congregation’s building committee, and calls the $3 million construction project a major success.

“It turned out exactly the way Boson and Excel drew it up,” he explained. “We have had virtually zero hiccups getting this project done.

“We thought when the pandemic came in March we were going to back up months and months, and it just kept right on going. I personally am very, very pleased. It’s a beautiful building.

“There’s 13,000 square feet here. Our old church was about 19,000 square feet. But the old church had many multiple levels. This is 13,000 square feet on one level. There are no steps to get into this building. Everything is easily handicapped accessible. Our sanctuary will seat 186 people. We have individual chairs now and not pews. Then we have a glass wall that separates our sanctuary and our gathering area that can seat another 112.”

The new church includes office and meeting space, a nursery, a full kitchen, classrooms for Sunday School and youth groups, and a space for the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center, which had been housed at the old church.

The former Wesley United Methodist Church was destroyed by a major fire Labor Day weekend in 2018. The congregation will hold a grand-opening celebration for the community on Sept. 19.