Medina church makes push to get new building done on Maple Ridge
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Calvary Tabernacle Church hopes to open its doors by summer. The new church is located on 36 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road, just east of Salt Works Road.
MEDINA – Building a new church is a dream come true for the Rev. Vincent Iorio and his congregation.
Twenty-five years ago Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God purchased the former Medina High School building on Catherine Street, where they have held services ever since, welcomed the Orleans County Christian School and rented space to the Medina Area Association of Churches clothing depot.
About two years ago, the church began to plan for a new, modern edifice and they sold the high school to local businessman Roger Hungerford. Hungerford plans to turn the building into upscale apartments, but he has allowed the church to continue holding services there until they can move into their new church.
The Rev. Vincent Iorio, pastor of Cavalry Tabernacle Church, stands in the entryway of his new church which is being built on Maple Ridge Road. The church is now reaching out to the community for donations to finish the project by summer.
Iorio and his congregation began making plans for their new church and purchased 36 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road, between Tops and Salt Works Road. Construction began a year ago on the 10,400 square-foot building, where to date all utilities are in, and rooms are all framed and insulated.
Sale of the old high school provided funds to construct the church to its present state – 70 percent complete, the Rev. Iorio said.
“Now we are asking the community to help us,” the pastor said.
The Rev. Iorio said the church started fundraising five years ago. They have spent half a million to date, most of which came from the sale of the high school, but another $400,000 is needed.
The new church will seat 150 and have a sound booth, kitchen and fellowship hall, classrooms, a youth room, nursery and area for their Foodlink ministry.
The stage takes shape in the sanctuary of Calvary Tabernacle Church, which is being built on Maple Ridge Road.
“We are the largest Foodlink supplier in Orleans County,” the Rev. Iorio said. “In 2019, we served 1,488 families via our Food Pantry, and an additional 150 to 200 area families per week through the Mobile Food Pantry distribution, which takes place the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
The church also offers counseling services through their “Still Waters Counseling Center,” at no cost to clients. In 2018, 550 counseling sessions took place, assisting many local individuals, couples and families.
The Rev. Iorio invites the residents of Orleans and neighboring counties to come and see what they do every week.
“Please consider helping us complete the building so we can continue serving your neighbors right here in your own back yard,” the pastor said.
Everything is ready to go to finish the church, he said.
“We just need money and good weather,” he said.
He said any amount will be much appreciated. Donations may be mailed to Cavalry Tabernacle Church, P.O. Box 625, Medina.
Information about online giving and the church’s community outreach ministries is available at www.caltabag.org.
The Rev. Iorio stressed that his new church is being built by local contractors, such as Art Hill Excavating, Top Gun Construction, Heveron Electric, Superior Concrete, Albion Plumbing and Heating, Schuler Construction and NES Contracting.
He also added a thank you to the army of Calvary and community volunteers who contribute their time assisting with the food ministries, in particular. Anyone interested in volunteering can call the church office at (585) 798-3738.
