Two local churches undergo renovations

Time can take its toll on everything, including sacred places of worship.

One large Texarkana church has already undergone massive renovation, with the process just beginning at another across town.

First Baptist Texarkana’s Worship Center on Moores Lane was completely redone almost a year ago, thanks to $1.5 million in pledges from its congregation. It has been transformed with cushioned theater seating, balcony hand rails, state-of-the art lighting and sound systems, along with new carpet and paint.

Associate Pastor Larry Sims said the renovations were much needed, as the pews had become heavily damaged in the 32 years they had been in the center.

“It’s a new, fresh environment. One of the things with the pews when they got damaged, the whole pew was damaged,” Sims said. “With theater seating, if one gets damaged, you replace it. It was just wear and tear for 30 years and it’s not worthy of the King.”

The pews were removed with a crane brought in from Little Rock, Ark. They were also given away to anyone who wanted them. Several churches and individuals loaded them up in the parking lot and all were gone in two days.

“It was so funny because we had some people say ‘I saw some of our pews going down I-30,’ and ‘I saw some of our pews going down Summerhill.’” Sims said.

In late April, St. Edward Catholic Church parishioners helped move pews and some religious relics into storage to prepare for renovations at the nearly 100-year-old building.

Mikey Naples, who is in charge of the church’s plant operations and maintenance, was hired by Father Paul Worm eight years ago when he created the buildings and ground commission to restore the church to its original 1923 glory.

He said the transformation began years ago and is now coming to fruition.

“We’re on our last journey,” he said. “We started eight and a half years ago and we’re at our final phase now, and that would be the interior.”

Naples said the first phase included sealing the envelope of the church, which included waterproofing the brick sides and the basement and also replacing the roof.

It is now covered with replica tiles of the original 1923 material that are the same color and thickness, he said.

Other upgrades include a

Gazette filem photo ■ Dashawn Hill removes a dolly as Reagan Beck and Aaron Prince lift a pew at First Baptist Texarkana. The teenagers volunteered to help with the renovations.

Submitted photo ■ Parishioners work Thursday to remove pews in the sanctuary of St. Edward Catholic Church, above, so restoration of the space can begin.