Courtland Baptist is expanding

Published 8:03 am Wednesday, August 5, 2009

COURTLAND—Courtland Baptist Church is undergoing an expansion.

The church, located at 22264 Main St., is constructing a new building directly across the street on property adjacent to the Southampton County Administration Building.

The Rev. Tommy Speight, pastor, said the new building would contain a 350-seat sanctuary, fellowship hall, commercial kitchen, nursery suite, choir room and additional rest rooms.

“We are excited about what the Lord is doing,” Speight said Tuesday. “We are running multiple services right now. We have bought modular units for Sunday school out in the back, and we’ve just run slam out of room.”

The firm Rick Jack Design of Leicester, N.C, designed the building. According to Jack, the single-story, brick veneer structure will be 15,600 square feet, will measure 120-by-130 feet, and will have an eave height of 16 feet. The steeple will rise 62 feet from the ground.

J.H. Lee & Sons Inc. of Courtland is doing the site grading, while the general contracting firm J.R. Wills & Sons Inc. of Suffolk will construct the building.

Speight said the church, which has just over 500 members, hopes to have the new building completed by next fall. At that point the church will essentially straddle Main Street.

“You’ll drive through our church,” Speight said. “You won’t be able to miss us.”