FUMC Phoenixville

First United Methodist Church has a rich heritage dating back to 1811. The church was officially incorporated in 1826, and the first church building was constructed in 1829. In the early 1960s faithful Methodists realized that their church building was no longer adequate to meet their needs, and the limitations were impacting the church's ministry and mission.

So the congregation made the decision to move to its present location in order to meet the needs of a growing church with additional parking, more Sunday school space and a more accessible facility.

Now, once again, our building is posing challenges for our growing programs and ministries. The lack of air conditioning in Fellowship Hall prohibits its more frequent use at certain times of the year for church and community functions.

Many things about our building are difficult for persons with handicapping conditions to manage.

Our electrical wiring is inadequate to support the technology that would enhance both education and worship. Many things about our building are difficult for persons with handicapping conditions to manage.

Additionally, the space for gathering before and after worship is too small. We also desire to support even more mission outreach.

All of these concerns have led to extensive prayer, conversation and study up through 2009 around the need for building renovations and enhancements that will enable us to fulfill our vision of a church where all are welcome and supported in Seeking, Sharing and Showing God's love through Jesus Christ.

Like the our congregation of 50 years ago, we now find ourselves looking to the future and realizing that this is the time ...

• To update our entrances and bathrooms so that young and old, physically strong and physically challenged, will find us to be easily accessible.
• For renovations to Fellowship Hall that will make it more inviting for the community to use, and allow for new programs such as an arts ministry.
• To update our heating and electrical systems, our windows and doors in order to be energy conscious and good stewards of our building. Our electrical wiring is inadequate to support the technology that would enhance both education and worship. Many things about our building are difficult for persons with handicapping conditions to manage.
• To contribute significant funds to a mission project that will extend our ministry far beyond our own church.

First Church is engaged in a wide variety of ministries through which we Seek, Share and Show God's Love. Now we invite you to prayerfully consider your participation in our capital campaign that will enable us to continue to grow in mission and ministry.

The proposed plan will involve three phases of renovation and expansion to our church:

Phase I of the construction projects begin at the "back of the church" next to Fellowship Hall in the kitchen. Proposals include air conditioning, new windows and flooring, stage relocation and new seating. The kitchen will also be upgraded with general renovations (new cabinets, countertops, etc.), improved storage, layout modifications to achieve enhanced functionality and to meet safety codes. In addition, improved entrance/egress access as well as handicap accessible and family friendly bathrooms will be priorities throughout the church building.

Phase II will shift to the front of the building in the form of a new "Welcome Center." This will improve traffic flow around the sanctuary, provide fellowship space before and after services and make available open space for bulletin boards and display tables. New main and pastor offices, updated staff offices and new bathrooms will also be in this innovative locale, offering easy access from this new entrance and fellowship setting. A visitor's parking section will be established close to the entrance and there will be a covered walkway to the entrance for inclement weather.

Phase III will continue work in and around the proposed Welcome Center and include new and renovated staff office space, regaining a classroom (from current staff office), two handicap bathrooms, and a kitchenette. An overall goal for this phase will be to create space around the sanctuary for ease of movement and gathering.

Trustee work in support of Campaign - Our Trustees have already completed several projects associated with improving our doors and sidwalks for easier access to our building.  Handicap Assist doors have been installed near our Chapel and Kitchen, and the sidewalks near all three of our entrances have been recently replaced and repaired.  They have also completed some needed upgrades to our electrical service and panels.  The Trustees and Building Committee contine to work with one another to ensure our critical facility needs and upgrades are being addressed.

Phase IA - The current construction on the two main bathrooms, the new storage room for Fellowship Hall, and the HVAC for Fellowship Hall are all underway and are scheduled to be complete by early January, 2011.

Phase IB - The Building Committee continues to work on plans for the Kitchen and further Fellowship Hall renovations.  We are currently waiting for construction to complete on the Bathrooms and storage room.  Once those projects are complete and paid for (January 2011) and an update to the Pleadges is received, we plan on updating the details of this Phase.

As of the end of December, 2010, we have received $143,000 of the pledged amount toward this campaign.  We are just about through the first year of our 3 year campaign and we have received more than 40% of our pledges.  Thank you for your contributions so far!  Keep the contributions coming!

Our Capital Campaign Planning Budget Consists of the following:

The Total Budget is planned to be spent in the following manner for Phase I of the Capital Campaign.  The 26% that is currently marked as "Kitchen + FH Windows" is money that we have not yet committed, but is planned to be used for the Phase IB Projects to include renovation of our Kitchen and new windows in Fellowship Hall.

 Below are a few pictures of our old bathrooms.  They were in need of major renovations in order to make them handicap and wheelchair accessible.

Fellowship Hall Storage Room and new HVAC Unit (as of 1/2/2011)