THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605140101
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Religion
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
Plaster crumbled from the walls. The carpet had water stains. A 100-year-old oak beam had rotted.
In the winter, the antiquated radiators emitted only wisps of heat. In the summer, hand fans provided more relief than the aging air conditioning system.
Despite the decaying conditions, despite the discomfort, each Sunday 75 or so of the faithful would assemble in the century-old sanctuary of the Central Baptist Church for prayer and a weekly sermon.
For years, they watched in horror as their church crumbled before their eyes.
``The roof leaked so bad that when it was raining, we had to put a bucket right beside the organist,'' recalled Fred Gibson, a longtime church member. ``We had let things go for years; we just kept putting it off because we didn't have the money for repairs.''
But on Sunday, the 111-year-old Colley Avenue church finally will celebrate the completion of $320,000 in renovations with a special 11 a.m. worship service and dedication. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Hank Brooks of St. John's Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. A reception will follow.
Now that they have a new sanctuary, members just need a new pastor. The congregation has relied on visiting ministers since January, when their interim pastor, the Rev. Melvin Hughes, died. A retired minister, Hughes took over two years ago, after the departure of the Rev. Davis Smith, who moved to North Carolina. The seven-year marriage between Smith and the parishioners was not harmonious.
``Hopefully, if we can get the right minister in here, he'll build the church up again,'' Gibson said. ``It's tough to find someone we want who wants to do it in our price range.''
Once a thriving church comprised of residents of nearby Atlantic City, a neighborhood which no longer exists, for some two decades the aging congregation has struggled to survive. Now surrounded by a burgeoning complex of hospitals, a medical school, health department and parking lots, the church has not been able to attract the young families moving into downtown and Ghent. Most of the parishioners are older, single adults - many of them widows - who have been members for decades. Atlantic City is long gone, razed to make way for other development.
Although elderly, the congregation remains active in the community. Each year, members serve some 10,000 meals to the needy in their weekly soup kitchen and house 8,000 family members of patients being treated at the nearby hospitals in the church's Caring Center. Occasionally, many of the appreciative lodgers send in hefty donations.
Members also earn some money by renting their parking lot out to a nearby hospital. Still, in recent years, the church has been strapped for funds to finance the numerous repairs needed throughout the aging three-story brick structure. In 1995, an architect recommended making more than $1 million worth of repairs and renovations.
But church members knew they couldn't afford to do everything at once. They decided to hold off refurbishing the social hall and kitchen facilities and tackle the sanctuary, the leaking roof and other structural repairs first.
Even for part of the repairs, the money was difficult to raise. After being refused by one bank, church leaders finally secured a 20-year loan to fund the first phase of work.
``When we pay that off, we'll do the second part,'' Gibson explained.
The first phase of repairs ended up costing more than originally anticipated. The roof, made of terra cotta tiles, was especially costly. Tiles had to be specially ordered from a Pennsylvania company that made the original tiles in 1900.
Other repairs included installing new electrical and sound systems, oak flooring, and central heat and air conditioning. The walls were replastered and painted, the oak pews refinished, ceiling beams repaired and antique light fixtures refurbished.
``We redid the leading in the stained glass windows a few years ago, so the sanctuary is finished now,'' Gibson said. ``There's really not many churches left like it. We could get historic landmark status, but there's just too many rules and regulations for us to deal with.''
The wood-paneled sanctuary is about the only portion of the original building the congregation still uses. Most activities are held in the offices, a library and classrooms in the newer education building, constructed in the early '60s. Old Sunday school classrooms in the original structure now are closed off.
The congregation is hoping, however, that a new pastor will put some life back into those walls.
``We want to do more outreach programs,'' said Nalda Morris, a member for more than 50 years. ``We just have to find someone who wants to help us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BETH BERGMAN
Sunday, 111-year-old Central Baptist Church will celebrate the end
of $320,000 in repairs.
SPECIAL SERVICE
Central Baptist Church, at the corner of Colley Avenue and Olney
Road, will hold a special worship service and dedication of its
newly renovated sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The Rev. Hank Brooks of St. John's Baptist Church in Virginia
Beach will be the guest speaker. A reception will follow the
service.
by CNB