Work Begun on New Church to Meet Needs of 724 Methodists on Campus, Jan. 10, 1925

Work Begun on New Methodist Church Building. . . The New Church Will Cost a Total of $220,000 When Completed. . . 724 Methodists Here. . . Students Show Great Interest in Activity of Big Steam Shovel Doing Excavation Work

The construction of a much needed new Methodist church is now well under headway. Each year the number of Methodist students has increased until it has become necessary to build another and larger church. This year there are 724 Methodists registered in the University.

The joint commission representing North Carolina Methodism and created for the purpose of building an adequate Methodist church on the Hill let the contract to Jewell and Riddle for the sum of $156,550. This contract only includes the church and the connecting unit, and does not cover the lighting, heating, organ, and furniture. The total cost of the lot, church furnishings, and organ will amount to about $220,000. Of this amount the boards have appropriated one half, and the remainder is to be raised by subscriptions taken throughout the state. About $50,000 of this amount has already been subscribed, the remainder is to be subscribed the coming year.

Mr. C.D. Rigsbgee, [Riggsbee?] contractor of Durham, is doing the excavating. He is using an Erie Steam Shovel, which scoops three-fourths square yards of dirt at each dip, and which keeps about 15 teams and trucks busy. The dirt is being placed between Peabody Building and the new hotel. Much interest in the work of the shovel has been displayed by the students and the big snorting iron monster has a gallery of interested spectators from early morning until late in the afternoon.

The church is being built in one of the most advantageous spots of Chapel Hill, as it will occupy the places where the old Barbee house and store stood. The old store has recently been used as the Buccaneer office.

It will be built of colonial architecture, its spire rising 170 feet above the ground. The architect, Mr. James Gamble Rogers of New York, is taking great interest in the work. It will be built of common red brick, the connecting unit extending across the walkway through the church yard to the library.

A brief ceremony was held last Tuesday at noon, when the ground was broken. The exercises were conducted by Rev. Walter Patten; among others present were Mrs. Patten, Robert L. Strowd, Mrs. Algernon S. Barbee, Mrs. Marvin Stacy, E.W. Knight, L.R. Wilson, and Howard W. Odum.

From the front page of The Tar Heel, Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, January 10, 1925

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