Last April I wrote a post about the construction saga of the First Baptist Church of Guilford. The church started construction on a new sanctuary back in 2007. Progress was slow and by last year the general contractor filed for bankruptcy and the job was shut down completely.
It is now projected to open this June.
It has been a long and somewhat tortured path for the 112 year old congregation. Neighbors against churches held up the 70,000 square foot project for seven years. According to this story by Janene Holzberg in The Sun, “ the church had endured a seven-year zoning dispute with neighbors who opposed expansion plans. That conflict was finally resolved when the zoning of the church's property was changed in the 2004 countywide comprehensive rezoning plan, which remains in effect.”
It almost makes the five year Town Center redevelopment process seem like a walk in the park.
The church also has a new pastor. Reverend Tyrone P. Jones IV was selected to replace Reverend Dr. John L. Wright who passed away just over two years ago.
“Jones, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Howard and Princeton universities, respectively, said he will draw on his community-based background to take in new members "in a radius around the church."
Something tells me that Reverend Jones is going to be a significant player in the HoCo loco politico scene once he gets settled in to his new building.
