First Baptist tears down rectory; eyes fellowship hall

Tue, 04/02/2013 - 1:13pm — John Embry

It's out with the old and in with the new as First Baptist Church in Morgantown is eyeing the construction of a fellowship hall. In the meantime, the church moved forward this week with the demolition of its rectory located adjacent to the main sanctuary structure.

A brick home originally built in 1951, the First Baptist Church rectory has served as living quarters for many church pastors and their families over the years. It has most recently been used as rental property.

However, with changing times and needs of the church, as well as the cost of maintenance and upkeep of the facility, the decision was made to tear down the rectory and ultimately construct a fellowship hall in its place.

For example, church members on a weekly basis cook and serve meals to over 70 families in the community. That task, as well as others in which the church is involved, is currently being done in the downstairs basement, which serves as the fellowship hall. A new, more easily accessible fellowship facility, many church members believe, would help the church fulfill its mission to serve those in the community.