Church
Expanded in the 1950's:
remembering William Crutchfield,
member and gifted architect
By 1954, we had outgrown our facilities, so a Building and Finance committee was appointed, chaired by R. L.Maclellan and Donald Munson, and an ambitious program of expansion, addition, and renovation took place. A new kitchen and fellowship hall,new Sunday school rooms, and an expanded sanctuary were planned.
Construction was to require more than two full years to complete. First the educational building was erected; then the old building (now the office wing) completely made over, while we worshipped in the new fellowship hall during an entire year.
Our first minister of music, Stephen J. Ortlip, came in July, 1955, and immediately began the training of three new choirs in the new rehearsal room - Senior, Pioneer and Junior Choirs, in addition to the Adult Choir. On many Sunday afternoons and evenings he held special services, organ recitals, and choral presentations, as well as Christmas oratorios and pageants.
On Mar. 27, 1955 the new Fellowship Hall was used for the first time for a missions conference led by Dr. and Mrs. Sam Shoemaker and entitled "Faith That Works."
The new church was consecrated March 11, 1956 and the old cornerstone was reset in the new sanctuary wall. The roll recorded 861 members.
The building program was nearing completion when William Crutchfield, the local architect and member of our church, died in the first hour of 1956. The Building Committee penned this fine memorial to his dedicated work:
"He labored far beyond the call of duty, for to him the building of this church to the glory of God was more than a professional engagement. Into it he put his heart. Into it went utmost care in every detail. . . . The finished building itself stands as a monument to God, as William Crutchfield would have it, but in it we will have memorial too of a master-builder for whose skill and faithfulness we will forever remain grateful."