Ada church to rebuild after ’12 fire

$6M plans set for site of 113-year-old First United Methodist

An architectural rendering shows plans for a 25,000-square-foot Ada First United Methodist Church. The architect is RCM Architects of Findlay. Work is to start in the first quarter of 2014.

ADA, Ohio — A congregation in this Hardin County village will move forward with a $6 million project to build a new church at the site where a March, 2012, fire destroyed the historic Ada First United Methodist Church.

Church members this month approved the building project and a budget. The 25,000-square foot building will be paid for with donations and insurance settlement funds. The church will be built at Main Street and Highland Avenue, where fire ruined its 113-year-old stone predecessor.

Bob McCurdy, chairman of the church building committee, said construction is to begin in the first quarter of 2014. A contractor will be chosen using a bid process early next year. Work should be finished by Easter, 2015.

Mr. McCurdy said rebuilding on the church’s old site is important to the community for historic and emotional reasons.

RCM Architects of Findlay designed the new church, which features many windows surrounding a roughly 1,000-square-foot foyer.

“The way the church presents itself on Main Street is much more open,” he said of the design plans.

First-floor space features room for the children’s ministry, including a nursery. Officials hope to also build an outdoor playground.

A second-floor sanctuary is to seat 250 to 300 people. The building also will house a large commercial kitchen and dining area.

Services will continue to be held at the English Chapel of Ohio Northern University until construction is complete.