LAWRENCE — Christian Methodist Church — which boasts a growing congregation of 200 families from Lawrence, Methuen and Salem, N.H. — is getting ready to break ground on its new home.
The church purchased the historic Turn Hall, a former German social club, at 42-22 Park St. in January for $310,000. Six days later it was destroyed by fire and has since been demolished.
"It was very sad," the Rev. Hector Mateo, pastor for the past 15 years, said. "We wanted to keep much of the old charm, including the balcony and the stage. That's something you can't duplicate."
Construction of the new church will take about a year to complete. Work could begin as soon as the end of this month, Mateo said.
And it won't be a moment too soon.
The church, now at 45 Avon St., was opened in the city more than 20 years ago with just 20 members. Today, it has more than 200 families. Eighty percent of its members are Dominicans, and the others are Puerto Ricans and Guatemalans.
"I always dreamt of having a big family and just as I invested in my earthly family, I did the same with the church," said Mateo, who recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Altagracia.
Christian Methodist has an active youth group, made up of 50 members, a choir and holds worship services on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The new church will have room for all that and more, such as school programs, citizenship classes and marriage counseling.
Members showed their commitment to the church by collecting the money to buy Turn Hall. Two church members also loaned Mateo $76,000 for asbestos removal.
"I'm not surprised, because God opens doors and leads the way in times of crisis," said Mateo, 66, who is working to secure a bank loan to clean up debris on the site from the fire.
The parish has saved the bricks from Turn Hall, which it will use to build a walkway at the new church.
The hall's 1895 cornerstone will be used, too. By coincidence, the Avon Street building that Christian Methodist bought 20-plus years ago for $50,000 formerly served a Quaker congregation and was built in 1895.
City planner Dan McCarthy said the congregation needs a building permit and a site review to start work, but he sees no reason why the project won't be approved.
"I'm very excited," McCarthy said. "I don't know who is happier, my office or the Fire Department, because the building had been a great concern. The new church is really going to be a great benefit to the neighborhood."
How to get involved
To make a donation to the Christian Methodist Church building fund, send a check to Riverbank, PO Box 552, Lawrence, MA 01841. Mark it to account 211371434.
