Ground breaking for new Union AME Church to be held July 7

Warwick - On Saturday, July 7, members of the Union African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) along with church and local officials and anyone interested in attending will assemble by the historic AME Church building at 98 McEwen St. At that time, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris from the First Episcopal District and Union AME Pastor Rev. Vernon H. Peters will officiate at an official ground-breaking ceremony for the congregation’s new church facility. Last year an engineering report had all but condemned the property for safety reasons. And, with modern building codes and other requirements to contend with, repair and renovation was out of the question. The only solution was to demolish the old church building and replace it with a new facility. In the meantime, Sunday services and Wednesday night bible study are being held at the Warwick Senior Center. The new building is estimated to cost from $500,000 to $600,000. The Union African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is supported by the 40 families who form the congregation, has obtained a building loan of $300,000 from Key Bank. The Episcopal District has contributed $47,000 and in a true spirit of ecumenism, the Warwick Reformed Church offered a generous donation of $9,000. So far, members and other donors have contributed approximately $40,000 toward the balance still needed to complete the project. “We have enough funds at this time,” said Peters, “to begin construction. But we may delay that a week or two while the Historical Society finds a suitable site for the old Church.” The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick believes the historic 101-year-old building can and should be preserved. Once a site is obtained, a professional building moving company will literally move the building down McEwen Street to its new location. It should be quite a scene but not the first in Warwick’s history. The Village Hall was once a Church building that was moved down the block from the present day location of the Warwick Reformed Church. According to Peters, the design of the new facility will be traditional and similar to the older building in style. But it will be much larger, using much more of the property and replacing other buildings that are now adjacent to the Church and which will be demolished. The new facility will accommodate 250 people. The original building could only hold 64. The new church building will also feature a full commercial kitchen and a dining room that can be opened to enlarge the total area for special services involving larger congregations such as weddings. Upstairs living quarters will also be included for the use of the pastor and his family. The new Union AME Church building is expected to accommodate additional services for the congregation including an extended Vacation Bible School and possibly a day care center. Fund raising plans include the sale of building bricks with the names of individual or business donors engraved. Any person, business or organization wishing to help the Union African Methodist Episcopal Church reach its building fund goal should call 986-3649. Donations can be mailed to Union AME Church, attention: Building Committee, P.O. Box 352, Warwick, NY 10990.