NORWAY — The pastor of Moss Brook Church told the Planning Board on Thursday evening that the church plans to spend up to $1.2 million to purchase and renovate the former Grover Gundrilling building on Aldrich Avenue.

Mike Booker said the church has been meeting in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School auditorium in Paris for the past 14 years, with up to 300 people most Sundays.

“We need some elbow room for us to be able to do all the things that we like to do,” he said.

The church reached an agreement to buy the manufacturing plant for $850,000. Renovations to the interior would cost around $400,000, he said.

“We’re raising money for that right now,” Booker said. “We’re partway there right now. We’re planning for this to be a cash sale, and to renovate as we have the resources.”

Booker said the building will be used primarily on Sundays and allow the community to use it other days.

“We have some folks ready to go with a soup kitchen to provide meals for people with need, and we have the possibility for after-school activities for children,” he said. “We also have a common area that’s large enough for us to seat 100 people.”

Chairman Dennis Gray said the church’s site plan application will be reviewed at the board’s next meeting on July 26.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

Moss Brook Church pastor Mike Booker told the Norway Planning Board on Thursday evening that the church plans to buy and renovate the former Grover Gundrilling manufacturing plant on Aldrich Avenue, shown in June 2017. (Matthew Daigle/Sun Journal file photo 2017) 

Norway Planning Board members Michael Quinn, Chairman Dennis Gray and Tony Morra listen Thursday evening as Pastor Mike Booker of Moss Brook Church talks about his plans to move the church to the former Grover Gundrilling building on Aldrich Avenue in Norway. (Matthew Daigle/Sun Journal)