The 1964 Sanctuary

You walk into the sanctuary any time of the day and notice the light from the windows, the shadows and images they make on the floor. The light of the world outside coming in through the stained glass windows to give peace and hope to those who enter that room.

The sanctuary of First United Methodist Church Richards, was completed in September of 1964. The planning that went to the sanctuary was to develop a place of just a place of worship, but a place to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Each piece of stained glass, each pew, each Bible and hymnbook were given in memory or honor of someone who remained in the hearts of the giver.

There are fourteen rows of pews arranged in a semi-circular fashion and over the chancel is suspended an 18 foot Latin cross. The sanctuary seats 900 persons. The pews are of solid oak.

There are four stained glass windows of special design at the four corners of the sanctuary. Did you ever notice the garden areas that are visible through those windows if you look closely.

Think about the shape of the sanctuary. It is a combination of the old and the new. It is in the form of the Greek cross.

The new church will have its own architectural style that is important to the new generation of the new church, but we will take with us pieces of the spiritual feeling that is in our present sanctuary. We will take the feeling of hope and piece and worship that is a part of our history.

When you sit down in your pew next time look in to the front cover of the Bible or the hymnbook and say thank you for the name of that person on the name plate, because they helped make our church what it is today and what it will become in the future.


Submitted by Frances Long
Church Historian