A Pennsylvania church that was established nearly two centuries ago has shut its doors after enduring multiple crashes from trucks.
The Mount Harmony United Methodist Church in Wellersburg was first established in 1846, over 170 years ago.
On Sunday, it held its last service.
‘As we go now from this house into a further journey of faith, we give you thanks, oh God,’ pastor Kenneth Haines preached during his final sermon.
In the last year three tractor-trailers have gone off the road and barreling toward the church, WJAC-TV reports.
A Pennsylvania church that was established nearly two centuries ago has shut its doors after enduring multiple crashes from trucks
The Mount Harmony United Methodist Church in Wellersburg held its last service on Sunday
The most recent crash occurred in April, causing enough damage for the congregation of around 200 people to say it was time to move
The most recent crash occurred in April, causing enough damage for the congregation of around 200 people to say it was time to move.
‘It’s sad to see the building in the condition it’s in and sad to know that this will be the last time that there would be people worshipping here, but also, there’s an element of excitement, I guess,’ Haines told WJAC-TV. ‘There’s the possibility of a new building, a new church.’
Michael Norris has been a member since 1953 when he used to come with his father.
‘There’s a lot of good memories and it’s sad to see the building go, but we think it’s (for) the best,’ Norris said. ‘The church is not the building. It’s the people.’
The congregation is shown proceeding out of the church, carrying a cross with them. One man who’s been a member since 1953 said: ‘The church is not the building. It’s the people’
Pastor Kenneth Haines said they plan to build a new church on the same lot but further back
The new worship space could cost up to $100,000, but Haines is hopeful that insurance from the previous church will cover the majority of the expense
A new church is set to be built on the same lot toward the back corner on higher ground, making it less susceptible to collisions. Haines said they also plan to put up one or two barriers to deflect anything that would threaten the replacement church.
The new worship space could cost up to $100,000, but Haines is hopeful that insurance from the previous church will cover the majority of the expense.
He also sees the change of venue as a new beginning.
‘We’ll give it a “Field of Dreams” aspect: Build it and they’ll come, right?’ Haines said of gaining new members from the move.
Haines said he hopes they’ll be in their new church to start a new chapter around this time next year.
An old photograph shows the church before it sustained damage from the three trucks