This Sunday marks a special day for the congregation of the Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Church leaders announced new plans for their church 10 months after it was destroyed by fire.
The bell tower at the Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church is ringing once again signaling a new beginning for the church virtually destroyed by fire in January.
Under the bell, the sign reads, "Patience is trusting God's Timing."
"We originally thought about building a traditional church right back on the same place. After really researching that, it seemed that God was saying, hold on there, there's a better way,” said Rev. Willa Fay Williams.
Church leaders say now is the time for a new church with very old roots.
Construction will begin next year to expand the old Kroger store 2 doors down from site of the fire into a more than $5 million complex that will house the church and its non-profit arm, the Portland Avenue Community Trust.
“The church was chartered in 1855. It’s been on that corner where the bell tower is since 1892. So we're not leaving our area,” said Williams.
The plans are already drawn in the parking lot showing what will be the sanctuary. It’s in front of the old Kroger store and what was the old Kroger store will house part church, and the other part will house their outreach ministries program.
The nearly 100 person congregation has bounced around to other churches on Sundays since the fire, most recently landing at their temporary home of Saint Cecilia.
But by April of next year, they will go back to an old place just with a new face.
“We see this as changing the face of 32nd and Portland, all for the good," said Williams.
The Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church bought the old Kroger building at a sale price of $318,750.
The expansion will cost more than $5 million, more than half is covered by insurance.
The expansion will include green space on the corner where the church once stood, with a small chapel that will incorporate the old bell tower.
