A charming Maine church is seeing its congregation grow so much that its leaders say a major expansion is now needed.
All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1992, has spent decades discussing plans to rebuild its aging auxiliary wing.
Now, the church is finally primed to make that move, as an influx of new members joins its ranks.
'We see new faces almost every week,' pastor Rev. Chad Poland told the Bangor Daily News.
Poland said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused people to reconsider their connections and look for communities that feel authentic.
'I think people's priorities shifted and people saw the value of community,' he added.
The Protestant church in Bangor, about 130 miles northeast of Portland, Maine, now has a congregation of about 326 people, with approximately 50 new members joining over the last two to three years.
Nearly $2.8 million toward its $4 million goal has already been raised since the church began fundraising in February, according to Poland.
All Souls Congregational Church (pictured) in Bangor, Maine, will rebuild its aging side wing as it also deals with an influx of new members
All Souls is a Protestant church, but notes on its website that it features a 'very diverse congregation ... from many different Christian backgrounds'
The All Souls Congregational Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1992
Demolition is set to begin by the end of this month and the new space is set to open next fall.
For now, worship services at the historic church will continue as normal at 10am on Sundays. However, they will shift to 9am in July and August.
The church's website notes that 'we are descended from the Pilgrims' but that its ranks feature a 'very diverse congregation with people from all over and from many different Christian backgrounds.'
Although the share of Americans who identified as Christians appeared to be declining, recent numbers indicated that fall had tapered off over the last five years.
About six in 10 Americans currently identify as Christians, according to a Pew Research Center survey published last February.
The new structure will be smaller than the structure it is replacing, which is known as the Arlan A. Baillie building and was built in 1954.
However, it will add a second story that will provide 'administrative, educational and multi-use rooms,' according to project plans published by the church.
All Souls held a 'special prayer for the decommissioning' of the wing on April 12.
'As this will be our final event in the Baillie Building, we also take a moment to say goodbye to this meaningful space and offer our thanks for all the memories it has held,' the church's website noted.
Rev. Chad Poland and Rebekah Timms said the church was seeing new members almost every week and that its congregation currently consisted of about 326 people
About 50 new members have joined the Bangor church over the last two to three years
Details for the project added that the construction work would expand green space outside and turn the church 'substantially more energy efficient.'
That would be achieved through the addition of solar panels and 'high-efficiency' HVAC equipment, according to the church.
The new space will have administrative offices on the upper level with educational programs on the lower level.
As a whole, the cost was estimated to 'approach' $4 million, according to the proposed redesign.
The church said it would largely rely on its members to raise the money but would also raise money through capital donations.
The balance would then be covered by endowment earnings and a construction loan, per the church's plans.
'Achieving our goal will require unprecedented levels of giving,' the church noted.
A look at the proposed redesign, which would now feature a two-story side wing that would help turn the church 'substantially more energy efficient'
The auxiliary wing will be completely torn down but some of its elements, including a copper fireplace hood and granite from the original building, will be maintained.
Rev. Rebekah Timms explained that the church's congregation had decided what to keep and what to repurpose.
'Imagine if these walls could talk?' Timms told FOX Bangor.
'There's a lot of memories in there but there are the difficulties of heating and maintaining and being part of the modern world,' she added.
Church moderator Dale Gass pointed out how the wing had long been a fixture but was in need of repairs.
'The Baillie building has been a staple of this church for 70 years and you can only patch and repair for so long,' Gass told the outlet.
The Daily Mail reached out to the All Souls Congregational Church for further comment but both of its pastors were unavailable because they were away on home visits.