Construction on Lakemont Presbyterian Church’s new facility on Pleasant Home Road is underway.
“We sold the building we’d been in since the 1950s to the Augusta National in October 2018,” said the Rev. Dave Vosseller, senior pastor. “We moved out in 2019 and have been meeting at Westminster (Schools of Augusta) ever since.
The church bought 5.7 acres near a pond on Pleasant Home Road and plans to build a sanctuary to seat about 300 people and educational buildings for a nursery, youth and adult Sunday school classes. The construction is estimated around $4 million according to John Farr, one of the church elders.
In addition to the building construction, the church will have to put in a deceleration lane.
The church is located next to The Place at Martinez, and Vosseller said the congregation wants to be “good neighbors” not only to those living in the nursing home, but to those living in the nearby subdivisions.
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It was those established neighborhoods and new apartments that drew Lakemont to its location, he added.
Lakemont broke ground on the property in fall 2020 and would like to be in the new building by fall 2021; however, that will depend on how quickly construction takes.
During the pandemic, the cost of building materials such as lumber have skyrocketed, and that has slowed progress, said Farr.
Formerly located on Bluebird Road off Washington Road, Lakemont was founded in 1946. Greene Street Presbyterian Church sponsored the new congregation and purchased two lots for the construction of the church, according to the church’s website.
The first services were conducted in members’ homes until the building was completed in 1950. An education building was added in 1951.
Lakemont has about 200 members including children, according to Vosseller. During the pandemic, the church has been holding in-person services. Some of the congregants watch the services at home while others attend in person.
To learn more about Lakemont Presbyterian Church, visit the church website at www.lakemontcpa.org.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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