After more than a year of work, a major building project at Calvary Church of God in Christ, 646 Ala., is nearly complete.

Carrying an estimated price tag of more than $150,000, the project leaves Calvary with a new sanctuary; a new basement beneath the addition; and handicapped-accessible rest rooms for the first time.

On Sunday, the Rev. William Dulin and the Calvary Church of God in Christ Church, 646 Ala. will have a special dedication service to mark the approaching completion of a new addition to the church.

“I believe this project will give us a modern facility with more space. People like to come to an attractive church, as well as an accessible one. There are some things we’d like to do here, and we’ve been hampered by a lack of room,” said the Rev. William Dulin, Calvary’s pastor since 1982.

The addition to the church’s north side will serve as the sanctuary for worship services, while the original side will be used as a nursery and church office and will house the new rest rooms.

The new basement has been configured as a large space that could be used as a dining room or classroom, according to Dulin.

To celebrate the end of the project Dulin said the work is about 90 percent finished Calvary’s congregation and special guests will have a dedication ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. The event is open to the community.

“There will be a continual renovation on the old side of the building. But we wanted to go ahead and get our dedication in because we’re far enough along on the addition,” Dulin said.

Attending the ceremony will be: the Rev. William H. McDonald, bishop of the Kansas East Jurisdiction of the Churches of God in Christ; Lawrence Mayor Sue Hack; and visiting ministers from Lawrence and other area communities.

The service will be led by the Rev. Charles Lowe, chief adjutant of the Kansas East Jurisdiction. The Calvary Choir will perform, and the Rev. Leo Barbee, pastor of Victory Bible Church, 1942 Mass., will sing.

The construction project has been a long time coming for Calvary’s congregation.

	Calvary Church of God in Christ, 646 Ala., will dedicate the new addition to the church at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.The building project includes a new sanctuary, a new basement and handicapped-accessible rest rooms.

“It’s been in my mind for quite a while, but you have to take it step by step. We had to buy the lot next door to us (638 Ala.). We took down the house there and cleared the lot,” Dulin said.

“I believe it was a God-sent plan. When we bought the lot with the house, we planned to pay it off over 10 years. But God blessed us to pay it off in less than five.”

The congregation drew upon an ongoing building fund and secured a loan to finance the church addition. Much of the finish carpentry was accomplished through volunteer labor of church members and Dulin, which helped keep costs down.

Calvary has been at its present address since 1974. But its roots in Lawrence go much deeper. In the 1940s, the church was on New Jersey Street, Dulin said, and before that was in North Lawrence.

Attendance at Sunday worship services averages 30 to 40 people.