will be passage to the new

By MATT CLOWER

Staff Writer

First United Methodist Church, which is an important part of the history of Troy, is undergoing some major renovation, as a new $1.5 million facility is being built adjacent to the downtown building.

"We were simply in need of some extra space," Church Council Chairperson Ryan Daugherty said. "Our Sunday school classes were overflowing, we were having gatherings much larger than we had space for."

The plan calls for the construction of a two-story structure in the location where the office building used to be. The building had to be demolished to make way for the new building.

Daugherty said the decision to tear down the historic office building was a hard one for the church.

"This was a heartfelt decision for the church and one that we wish we didn’t have to make," Daugherty said.

He said that there were two many problems with the old facility to warrant repairing it.

But, a piece of the old building will live on in the new. The front door of the old building was removed and will be placed inside the new building as a tribute, Daugherty said.

The new building will include 12 classrooms, church offices, a choir room, a full-sized elevator, a covered portico, a full-sized kitchen, and a new fellowship hall that will seat 240 people. Passageways on both floors will connect the new building to the main church building.

Daugherty said once the building is completed the church has plans to open an infant daycare.

"We feel that there is a need for that in Troy," he said.

Construction on the new building has already started by Whaley construction and Daugherty said it should take a year to complete.

To monitor construction of the facility visit the website at www.fumctroyal.org.

The First United Methodist Church building has stood on the corner of Walnut and North Three Notch Streets since 1904.