THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501040119
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03P EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD
STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Last July the chunk of ground between the children's section and the adult area of London Bridge Baptist Church was a driveway. Just in time for the Christmas season that same area is now a $500,000, 5,100-square-foot welcome center.
``It's the hub between two different buildings. It's a connector wing and it's our official welcome center,'' Stephen D. Angell, the church's associate pastor to adult education and family life, said.
The architect for the wing was H.B.A. Architects and Interior Design and the contractor was Hoy Construction Inc. There is also additional renovation being done on the adjoining wings.
``I've kind of watched it little by little over the months,'' Angell said. ``Tiles stacked here, carpet there. But the last couple of weeks when the workers were making it spotless, adding the finishing touches, we knew why we had done it.
``And we actually do call it the connector wing as well as welcome center. Jesus was the connector between the Father and mankind, and it is where we first can welcome everybody in Virginia Beach into our church,'' he said.
The downstairs of the two-story structure includes a greeting area, reception rooms and bathrooms. The upstairs includes children's classrooms for pre-school and kindergarten.
Although the complex of buildings on the church's property look relatively modern, London Bridge Baptist Church is one of this area's historic churches. Founded in 1784, it purchased the land it now occupies at 2460 Potters Road in 1809 and built the first of several churches there soon afterward.
The oldest portion of the current complex of buildings on the site was constructed in 1948. The worship area was constructed in the mid 1970s and the family life center was built in the 1980s.
The capital improvements are supported by the 2,500-member congregation through its 3-year-old ``On the Rock'' campaign.
However, Angell said building is still in progress. As permanent as the front of the wing looks, its ``Welcome Center'' sign and facade are removable.
It will eventually be incorporated as an interior wall when a new worship center is built in front of it.
``The Lord only knows when that will be done,'' Angell said. He meant that literally. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Marlene Ford
Associate Pastor Stephen D. Angell says London Bridge Baptist
Church's welcome center is a connector between two church
buildings.
by CNB