First Baptist Church to undergo renovations

New basement, elevator part of $650,000 project

Amherst First Baptist is undergoing a $650,000 renovation that will include a new basement and the installation of an elevator.

Darrell Cole - Cumberlandnewsnow.com

Rev. Byron Corkum looks over plans for the $600,000 renovation of Amherst First Baptist that will include a new basement and the installation of an elevator. The church will be launching a capital campaign in August. The project will be complete by fall.

AMHERST Amhersts historic First Baptist Church is set to undergo a significant change.

The church is just about ready to launch a capital campaign in the community to raise the $650,000 necessary to complete a series of much-needed renovations including remodeling the basement of the building and installing an elevator.

Its the first renovations weve done in the basement in 60 years, while the elevator is something we need to make the building completely accessible, Rev. Byron Corkum said Wednesday while looking over plans. We really needed a new kitchen facility in the basement and an elevator is a necessity for when we move things to the basement and its also important in terms of accessibility.

Corkum expects the renovations will begin later this month and be complete by the end of October. The elevator will be finished by the end of the year.

The renovation will include a new kitchen in the basement as well as a complete redesign. Corkum said walls will be knocked down so that the main room is bigger. He said the basement will be rewired and will have a new sound system, there will be new ceilings and new walls.

At present, the basement is used for youth group, for meetings and other events. The church is also a comfort centre for the Town of Amherst and Municipality of Cumberland and Corkum said the renovations will include a new bathroom thats barrier-free and will also include a shower.

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First Baptist Church to undergo renovations