About seven years ago a building committee was established for the purpose of expanding our sanctuary or deciding if a move to a new location might be beneficial and feasible. Bill Moeny was then Senior Warden and he was the one to push our congregation to build a new parish hall. 

After several meetings with the congregation it was decided that keeping our existing St. Thomas building was a better idea than moving.  We worked on design of a remodeling project with the congregation being heavily involved.  We asked three local architect firms to submit plans and Rennie Radoccia presented the plan we used.  We then hired a firm  from Payson to do a feasibility study to see if money was available to build an addition that would cost about $175, 000.  Chris Foley had reviewed the plans and volunteered to be the contractor for no fee.  It was determined that we could instantly raise $125,000 based on interviews with the congregation and pledges and it was also determined that an additional sum, enough to finish landscaping, parking etc. could be raised within three years. 

Model of the completed building project

We took out our building permit in October of 1999 and broke ground the following January.  It was soon discovered that the main feed for our gas line was right under the new sight for our narthex.  This discovery by Reed Kramer, with a backhoe, stopped construction for about three months as there had been an accident on a gas line in Sedona and Citizen Utilities was forced to use their resources there.  When construction did begin in earnest, things really began to pop.  We used Rastra, a form of block made from cement and Stryrofoam, and the walls sent up quickly. The blocks were ten feet long and weighed about 140 pounds each.

We tore off the front ramps and landscaping of the church and poured the new pad on February 11, 2000.  The walls went up and then the narthex and front façade of the old church came down.  This was a scary time as winter was upon us and we had no idea of what the weather might do.  We held services with plastic over the front of the church for a few weeks.  Weather cooperated and we were able to avoid canceling any services.  Mush later in the project, when carpet and painting time came along we had to have three services in the parish hall. 

Construction was slowed while Chris tried to finish some houses he was building.  This was a trying time for the congregation as Chris was trying to make a living and help the church at the same time.  Eventually Chris’s business slowed down enough to complete the bell tower and do some cement work to begin to finish the project in the fall of 2001.  

We have completely finish phases one and two, the sanctuary, the offices, and the meeting room and have completed installing new sidewalks.  The parking lot has been paved and lined and many of our members worked the landscaping of our grounds, including adding a small labyrinth at the rear of the church and several stone benches around the grounds for meditating and enjoying the scenery.  We also recently (summer of 2005) renovated our secretary's office, and the narthex with custom wood cabinetry and a new coat of paint.

2005-11-03 @ 1430