Two years after church wall collapsed, Franklinville UMC ready for rebuild

FRANKLINVILLE — Hopes are rising at Franklinville United Methodist Church with the prospect of rebuilding finally coming to pass.

It was July 6, 2023, when the west wall of the 111-year-old church building collapsed, leaving the interior of the sanctuary exposed to the elements. The few dozen remaining members, who had celebrated the church’s 180th anniversary four years before, could have thrown in the towel and moved on. But their spirit, plus the “outpouring of love from people trying to help,” wouldn’t allow the church’s heritage to be tossed into the debris.

At the time, Priscilla Dunn, then the church’s chair of the board of directors, said, “But we have to go on. I’m positive we’ll pick up the pieces and go on.”

New Pastor Michele Hill was scheduled to preach her first sermon at the church on July 9. Instead, the service was moved to the shelter at Franklinville’s Riverside Park.

“The first week (after the wall collapse), there were so many across the street watching,” Hill said. “We got to know each other. Some were coming back to join the church.”

But there was much work to be done. The Franklinville Fire Department was able to salvage the bell, the pulpit, the cross, candles and the piano. And one of the oldest stained-glass windows from the previous church building has been saved.

Recently, Dunn, Hill and Sue Saunders met in the Fellowship Hall, which has been used to hold services, to provide an update on progress. The debris has been removed and a fence surrounds the site where construction should begin at any time.

During the two years since the collapse, Saunders said, “everything has gone wrong,” including the architect having to quit and constant rain dampening construction efforts. 

“The biggest thing was insurance,” Dunn said. “It took a while.”

Initially, there were reports that the collapse was caused by a natural gas explosion. Not true, Dunn said, explaining that the wall was made of sand bricks which don’t last like clay bricks and the building was not placed on a solid foundation.

Finally, the wall gave way, leaving the church members to figure out how to rebuild.

“The community has been very supportive,” Hill said. “God is in everything. Even worshipping here (in the much smaller Fellowship Hall), I got to know people I didn’t know, being in an intimate space.”

Dunn added, “Tragedy pulls you together.”

“There’s been an increase in attendance and seven or eight have joined the church,” Saunders said. “Giving is up.”

Looking back at the Franklinville UMC’s history, Dunn said of years past, “It was nothing to have 150 in church when (Randolph Mills) was going strong.”

But with the closure of the cotton and flour mills during the 1960s and ’70s, people moved away. And there are more churches to choose from these days.

Hill said, “COVID affected attendance.” But Franklinville Methodist remains, she said, “a place for gathering, peace and love and comfort. Everybody who comes through the door is made to feel welcome.”

“This has always been the center of the community,” Dunn said. “We use it for Robin Sage (the annual Army maneuvers) to feed the troops.”

And the church has begun a regular community spaghetti supper, the last Tuesday of each month from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The meal is free but donations are accepted.

“It’s been really good with large numbers,” Saunders said.

Even with the loss of the sanctuary, Hill said the church’s women’s group has continued and the men’s group is restarting.

“We’re continuing to do things with other churches in the community,” Dunn said. “We’ve worked together more than ever.”

“We have a Bible study here with other churches,” added Saunders.

“And we’ve done things with the library, the school and voting,” Hill said.

Meanwhile, plans for the new building are to keep it as much the same as the old as possible. It will go on the original footprint but somewhat smaller, with the front door facing west toward the parking lot.

Asked when construction will begin, Saunders said, “They could show up any day to start.”

“We wanted local people and that’s why we got S.E. Trogdon,” Dunn said.

Once construction begins, it could take as much as 18 months to complete the building. 

The bottom line is that the members never gave up. As Dunn said, “We haven’t ever given up hope.”

“At Franklinville United Methodist Church, we’re thriving,” Hill said.

Saunders gave credit to Hill: “Michele had new ideas. She’s young and energetic.”

Dunn agreed, saying, “God placed her here when we needed her.”

And Hill is looking forward to the day when she can finally give a sermon in the church sanctuary.