
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995                   TAG: 9507060117
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHURCH BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW FACILITY

The Church of the Holy Spirit, an Evangelical Episcopal parish, has broken ground for a $2 million facility on Merriman Road at Cartwright Drive in Southwest Roanoke County.

According to the Rev. John Childress, a staff member, March is the target date for occupancy. The church is on 16 acres to provide ample parking for its 480-seat nave, he said. Later the worship area can be enlarged to seat 780.

The parish,which was started as a prayer group in 1985, emphasizes winning people to Christ and uses an informal worship style. It has experienced steady growth in its temporary meeting places of Lewis-Gale Hospital, the Salem Civic Center, a Lutheran church and for six years at North Cross School, Childress said. The brick church will be built by R.L. Price Construction from plans developed by Jeff Parkhill of Hughes Associates. The Rev. R. Quigg Lawrence is rector with Childress and the Rev. David Fuller.

by CNB