A work crew from an Augusta-based church rolled up their sleeves Saturday to tackle repairs at the former Whitefield Union Church.
Samantha Lee, a member of Kennebec Community Church, pastored by Chris Johnson, said, “This is the biggest project we’ve done.”
While an electrician and helper perched on tall stepladders to remove ceiling tiles spoiled by rain and mold, others tackled sheet rocking in the basement. Johnson, whose roots and church are Southern Baptist, was pleased with the freshly painted sky-blue room at the rear of the sanctuary. The room will serve as a nursery.
Lester Dancer, who grew up in Whitefield, will fill the pulpit of the newly named Sheepscot Valley Community Church. In recent years church membership has dwindled to two and three. Johnson and his congregation stepped in last fall to rescue the house of worship and begin badly needed repairs. The topmost section of the steeple was removed in early December with plans to replace it with a synthetic replica.
Also helping out on Jan. 9 were a few members from the Winthrop church Johnson also planted.
Johnson said workers will spend the month cleaning up the church to create a “sterile environment” and then a new congregation will begin worshiping there on Sun., Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. More work by another group is scheduled for March, he said.
Dick Sherburne, of the Augusta congregation, praised the group effort. “This community stuff is so important,” he said, explaining it brings people out, giving them a chance to get away from their job routines and watching television. “It gives them a chance to see each other,” he said.
