While receiving support from all across the state, and beyond, the Hopwood Memorial Christian Church congregation always knew there was no place like home.
Located on the Milligan College campus, the church will hold a dedication ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate new improvements at the facility. Guided tours of the church will also be held from noon to 2 p.m., according to Pastor Timothy Ross.
In May 2017, the Hopwood congregation kicked off a $1.5 million building project to add space, modernize the facility and make the “historical church building more accessible to those with mobility issues,” according to Ross.
Throughout the course of the construction, a new sanctuary entrance on the same level of the street leading to the church was added, an elevator was installed, wider doors were added to provide entry to the lower-level fellowship and church parking was configured with new landscaping features added. Other new additions include an increased sanctuary and the downstairs fellowship hall being fully renovated and expanded.
“The architects, Reedy and Sykes, and the construction crew, Burleson Construction, worked closely with church members to maintain the historical beauty of the building while thoroughly modernizing the facility,” said Ross.
Hopwood officially reopened for their first church service since the improvements on Sunday, Dec. 10.
During the renovation process, the Hopwood congregation worshipped atop Emmanuel Hill.
“I can’t say enough about the support we’ve received from Milligan College and Emmanuel Seminary,” Ross recently told the Elizabethton Star . “They’ve been so accommodating. From road work, to letting us worship at Emmanuel, I can’t say enough. We want to continue being an important part of Milligan College and will continue to work with the school.”
Hopwood has been active at the same location since the mid 1820s. The congregation lends support to various local, national and international ministries and provides a hub to college and seminary students.