Efforts start again on finishing new First Baptist Church building

First Baptist Church of Cutchogue hopes to finish work on its new building in 2015. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

While many religious groups across the U.S. and the North Fork are faced with declining membership, forcing some to shut their doors altogether, the First Baptist Church of Cutchogue is delighted to have the opposite of that problem.

After nearly a century in its historic church building located on a small parcel of land on Sound Avenue, the congregation is reigniting plans to move into a new, larger building.

The church had previously ran out of money to finish the new buildings construction.

Pastor Cornelius Fulford said Thursday that 2015 will mark the year work is completed on the new church. Construction had begun in April 2001.

The 9,600-square foot church building is located on a four-acre parcel thats about one mile west from the current church. It is needed to better accommodate its church attendees, as well as other community organizations looking to use the space for meetings, the pastor said.

In 2015, we are going to work hard to get into this church, he said. God let us know it might take a little time, but we complete the vision that God gave us.

Founded in 1924, the First Baptist Church of Cutchogue is one of the oldest black sanctuaries on eastern Long Island. Initially, services were held in the little schoolhouse on Oregon Road until membership outgrew the building. The congregation then constructed its current location in November 1928.

Today, the church has more than 100 members and it needs to be moved again, Rev. Fulford said.

Since purchasing the property, the church has been raising funds for construction. Over the years, the church has ran out of money to continue building.

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Efforts start again on finishing new First Baptist Church building