Church works on extreme makeover of sanctuary

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2013 at 12:00 am

Free Methodists will meet at library for next 2 weeks

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Albion Free Methodist Church removed the pews, carpet and platform from the church following a service on Sunday.

The church will spend the next three weeks remodeling the sanctuary at 25 South Platt St., the first Free Methodist church in the world.

The pews, which were purchased about 40 years ago from a church in Greece, are being swapped out with cushioned chairs. Some of the pews have been purchased by members of the church, while others are available for sale to another church.

New carpet will be added and the pulpit will be shifted from the east side of the building to the north wall.

The changes will allow the church to comfortably seat 240 people. Right now there is a space crunch for about 190 people that regularly attend the services.

The church will meet at the Hoag Library the following two Sundays before returning to the historic site on Nov. 17.