MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – It’s another busy Sunday service at Middlebury’s Memorial Baptist Church. A gaggle of Middlebury College students gather near the front.
“I just have so much joy when I come here and I see all my friends around me just worshiping God together,” Middlebury College senior Wolf Moller said.
In a time when church attendance is declining across the U.S., Memorial Baptist Church’s congregation is growing. Community members pack the pews and programming to near full capacity –125 guests – many Sundays. Moller credits the rise to a welcoming church atmosphere and a desire for connection and guidance. “People are looking for hope in a lot of different things,” Moller reflected.
Church staff welcome the crowd but worry they’ve outgrown the church’s walls. “People will come in, not see a seat, and leave,” Reverend Dr. Stephanie Allen said.
The church offers a popular livestream for at-home viewers, but they want to see more people in-person. Reverend Allen says they’ve added more seating in the sanctuary, soundproofed the basement ceiling and maximized the limited space, but it’s not cutting it. “We are out of everything here. And we’ve made, at this point, all the modifications that we can,” Reverend Allen said.
The church is considering expanding onto the back of their lot or buying a neighboring property. It’s a big project, but one they’re happy to take on. “The best part of it is that there’s a desire by the congregation to be fed,” Thomas Howard of Middlebury said.
Reverend Allen says it would give them ample space for programming and basic necessities. “It would give us more bathrooms, it would give us handicap space, it would give us space for nursery,” Reverend Allen explained.
The church is also eager to make room for community needs. They hope to open their doors for events and people experiencing homelessness. “Not just can we meet the needs physically here but what can we do for the community?’” Reverend Allen said.
Church staff say they hope to expand within the next couple of years.