Destroyed by tornado, Century United Methodist welcomes all this Sunday
New church resembles the old in Century
Like many residents of Century the congregation at Century United Methodist Church saw their lives turned upside down in February, 2015, when a tornado roared through the town and literally knocked the 113-year old church off its foundation.
While the physical foundation of the church was destroyed, the foundation of its members stayed strong. The original church was built in 1902 and has had to endure a fire, two hurricanes and a tornado.
At 2 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 24, the community is invited to a service dedication and open house on the reconstructed church at 530 Church St.
Janet Lee, pastor of Century United Methodist for the past 36 years, said they had their first service in the new church two weeks ago. Since the tornado, church services have been held in a building across the street.
"I'm excited," Lee said last week. "This past Sunday the common feeling was we could barely believe it."
Lee said there was never any doubt from the members that they wanted to rebuild the church following the tornado.
"Nobody wanted to bulldoze it down," she said. "So we dismantled it to save as much of the original church as we could. We made it for three years with God's providence, a lot of prayers and a wonderful contractor."
Lee said they were able to salvage the curly pine panels inside the church, the grand piano, the stain glass windows (thanks to Dale Evans), the light fixtures, pews and the church bell that now only rings on the inside.
She also said the front walk was made out of the brick from the old foundation.
"Right after the tornado, it was our new normal," Lee said.
She said in the rebuild, the sanctuary is the same as it was before the tornado, although missing a little wood. The 'new' church now has a larger kitchen and a larger fellowship hall.
"They are a happy bunch of people," she said of the members.
Lee said when she finished seminary in Kentucky in 1989 she first moved to Pensacola. In 1983 the job in Century came open and she's been there ever since.
"I feel like this is where God wanted me," she said.
