MW UMC breaks ground

MOUNT WASHINGTON -- It’s a new day for the Mount Washington United Methodist Church.

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The MWUMC will be able to move ahead on its new building project with a little help from the Mount Washington City Council after the board moved to approve a resolution to issue the church up to $2.25 million for a multipurpose facility.

The city’s bond issuance allows for the church to qualify for a lower interest rate than if it had obtained the financing through conventional methods.

Pastor Mark Wilson said the church was in need of a facility that had all of its resources on one level, including a multipurpose room, Sunday school classrooms and more.

The church had a groundbreaking for its new facility on Flatlick Road in Mount Washington recently.   

The congregation has been in its current location on Old Bardstown Road since 1924 and was in need of updated space, Wilson said.

Relocation discussions began among the congregation in the mid 90s and the property for the new building was purchased in 2000.

Wilson said his congregation has already pledged $465,000 in cash for phase one of the building project, which is expected to be completed in Sept. 2008 and includes everything but a sanctuary. He said the church’s sanctuary — phase II — will begin after the church sells its current building.

Mount Washington City Attorney Norman Lemme explained that the city is under no financial obligation to the church or to Citizens Union Bank, who will buy the bond issued by the city.

He said, ultimately, the church’s obligation was to CUB.

Wilson said he is excited about the church’s future.

“(It’s) a project we hope within the city that will benefit not only the church but the community,” he said.