New City Fellowship (Presbyterian) (Fredericksburg, Virginia) | church, religion, presbyterianism

 church, religion, presbyterianism

www.newcityfellowship.org/

By 1996 NCF had grown to 113 members and the space at Picker’s Supply had already become insufficient for the growing church. In 1997, after much searching, NCF began negotiations to purchase the old Southern States factory located on just over 2 acres near the downtown railroad station at 200 Prince Edward Street. The sprawling abandoned grain factory was both an eyesore and haven for illegal drug activity. Of course, this would be the perfect home for the young PCA church to build on its cross-cultural vision. The property owners finally agreed to sell the property in 1998 at a price the church could afford and the demolition began. The renovation of the new home for NCF would eventually take until the summer of 2000 before the first service would be held there.

As attendance grew at Picker’s Supply, two Sunday services with Sunday school classes in between were necessary and numerous issues from heating to air conditioning made it necessary to secure a temporary home while renovations pressed on at the old factory. On July 18, 1999, NCF began its year-long stay at the Fredericksburg Christian High School Campus. The modern facility provided many comforts and conveniences and the church continued its growth during that time from 167 to 191 members and Assistant Pastor Tony Bryant was added to the leadership.

On Sunday, July 23, 2000, NCF celebrated its first service at the new home on 200 Prince Edward Street with a sanctuary able to seat over 400 people. The site of the decaying factory had truly become “born again.” The transformation of the building now stood as a physical testimony to God’s faithfulness. Also, under the leadership of Trustee Bob Duffy, parking spaces on the church property were leased to the VRE (Virginia Railway Express) providing NCF with much-needed funds allowing the parking lots to be paved, the tower area to be finished and more.