» A firm foundation

Monday, August 31, 2009 | No comments posted. A new chapter in the history of the First Presbyterian Church of Bandon is unfolding. The church is undergoing a major renovation with the near completion of a new foundation.

Many residents have been watching the construction progress this summer on the tall white building with the blue steel roof on Edison Avenue.

A little history

First Presbyterian was the first Protestant church founded in Bandon. It was organized on Feb. 6, 1891, by the Rev. Eneas McLean, great-uncle of the Rev. Bob McLean, who served the church briefly as an interim pastor and whose widow Rosemary is still an active member of the congregation.

Like most of the churches within the city’s bounds, First Presbyterian was destroyed by fire in 1912 and again in 1936. 

“Despite the loss of their own homes and businesses in the midst of our nation’s worst economic depression, the stalwart members of this church covenanted together to rebuild their place of worship within two years,” said the church’s pastor, Rev. Bobbi Neason. Church members managed to achieve that goal doing much of the work themselves, Neason added. The men formed the foundation of concrete, using beach sand in the mortar. Over the years, the combination of salt in the sand and moisture in the surrounding soil caused the foundation to deteriorate.

The leadership of the church arranged for a partial replacement of the southwest sections of the foundation in 2001-2002, providing for an update of the church kitchen and the installation of a wheelchair-accessible restroom. The balance of the foundation is now being replaced due to further deterioration of the northeast walls.

“This necessary repair has provided a welcome opportunity for the congregation to provide complete accessibility for all members and visitors,” Neason said.

In addition to the foundation repair and an update of the electrical system, both new entryways at the front of the church will be free of any steps and will meet all ADA requirements for full accessibility. The interior stairs in the southeast corner will be rebuilt to ADA standards, and a Garaventa Shaftway Wheelchair Lift will be installed in the same corner, providing easy access to both floors of the building for those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The lift functions in the same way as a residential elevator.

“These changes, added to the alterations made in the past, will make the entire building accessible to all who wish to participate in worship and fellowship with the congregation of First Presbyterian,” Neason said.

One further change is the removal of a partial wall in the upper level, making way for the expansion of the sanctuary, which has become too small for the growing congregation. “We hope that these physical changes will make our church an even more inviting and open space for the whole family of God to gather.”

Thomas Stark of HGE Engineering drew the plans for the project, and he and local contractor John Parks are overseeing the work. Due to the faith and generosity of the congregation and other friends, fundraising has gone well to date, despite the current economic uncertainty, Neason said. Several grants from the larger denomination and Opening Doors, a church accessibility program, have aided the funding. Good weather has assisted the progress of the project, and church project managers Garth Hart and Bob Thrush hope to see it completed by the end of September.

A dedication service will be announced when the improvements are complete.