THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411090154
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
THE PEOPLE OF Benn's United Methodist Church trace their roots back 362 years.
Church records indicate that a group of parishioners from Historic St. Luke's Church, established in 1632, established a Methodist congregation and erected a building on the present site of Benn's Church around 1789. Records also show that in 1804 Bishop Francis Asbury preached at Benn's Church, then known as Benn's Chapel.
The church's present brick edifice and stained-glass-windowed sanctuary were built in 1924. Since then, two additions have been made to this structure.
But the congregation of Benn's has not rested on its past. A ground breaking in June marked the beginning of one of the church's largest steps of faith in its history. And before December, the initial phase of that step will be completed as the church opens the doors of its spacious new Family Life Center.
Benn's pastor, the Rev. Fred Breeden, describes the present-day congregation as ``stable in attendance with a slight growth in membership.'' He sees the church's growing need to have a suitable social hall and activity area as the major motivation behind its expansion.
Danny Walls, chairman of Benn's 11-member building committee, has spearheaded the church's building program, which began with a feasibility study nearly five years ago. Walls noted that the study revealed the church's growth potential was limited without a larger facility.
``The study showed we were already at capacity for our size building,'' he said. ``That's when we decided to go ahead with a new building.''
``The building has been very well received with lots of enthusiasm,'' said Walls, who has been at the construction site almost daily since June.
When Benn's Church opens its 15,572-square-foot addition this month, it will triple the size of the original structure. The Family Life Center will house a spacious lobby, educational classrooms, office facilities, restrooms, a modern kitchen and large multipurpose room for social activities and recreation.
With a brick exterior to complement the original sanctuary, the new complex will include an elevator and adjoining corridors to make both the old and new buildings more accessible for handicapped and elderly people.
The $600,000 complex was designed by Barnes Design Group of Virginia Beach, and the contractors were Hoy Construction Co. of Norfolk.
The church initiated a building fund campaign nearly three years ago. A new, three-year pledge drive along with various fund-raising projects will help raise additional funds for the debt retirement.
According to Hunter Jones, the church's furnishing committee is working to have things ready in time for the new facility's opening.
``We're purchasing basic things - like tables and chairs - as the money comes in,'' Jones said. The committee's wish list includes additional items such as portable staging, sectional risers, curtains and sports equipment.
Breeden sees the church's new Family Life Center as a steppingstone for the church's future growth and outreach.
``I feel it fits in with the overall mission of the church to nurture its membership but most especially to reach out and involve the membership in the needs of the community and the needs of the world around us,'' he said. The church also hopes to open its new facility for private use as well as community events. MEMO: Benn's United Methodist Church will present a piano and organ concert
featuring Dick Barnes and Hunter Jones at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.
Donation is $10. For ticket information, call 483-3270 in Portsmouth and
357-6210 in Smithfield.
The church is at 14571 Benn's Church Blvd. in Smithfield. For
information about the church's ministries, call 357-3373. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Rev. Fred Breeden, pastor of Benn's United Methodist Church in
Smithfield, checks the progress on the new Family Life Center. The
addition is scheduled to open in December.
by CNB