12/7/12 - St. Paulâs Episcopal Church-on-the-Millpond in Brighton wants to expand its facilities, and it received the blessing of the Brighton City Council Thursday night to proceed with the expansion. Church leaders told council they plan to construct a new building that will replace two additions, which were built in 1952 and in 1992. The main floor of the new building will be used for worship services and the lower level would serve for parish functions. The Rev. Deon Johnson, who is pastor of the church, tells WHMI the existing buildings were simply getting too inadequate for the parishâs expanding congregation of over 200 families. Rev. Johnson tells WHMI the parishioners decided they had too strong an attachment to the circa 1880 church building to demolish it, and it will function as a parish hall after the new building is constructed. The cost of the project is an estimated $2.1 million, which will be financed using church member donations and possible grant funds. He says the structure will architecturally complement the historic original church building, which lies on the Mill Pond in downtown Brighton. Behind the church is the historic Village Cemetery which is owned by the city of Brighton and includes the tomb of a former governor, Kinsley Bingham. After praising church leaders for their commitment to Brighton and their expansion plans, council Thursday night approved the site plans for the new church building. Rev. Johnson says they hope to break ground in April or early May, with completion 12-18 months later. (TT)
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