New Cullman First Baptist Church sanctuary moving toward completion
CULLMAN, Ala. – Work on the new sanctuary at Cullman First Baptist Church is moving along quickly.
Pastor Tom Richter explained that as more people attend services, the church needs more room for worship.
“It’s very, very exciting,” Richter said. “As the church grows, there’s a need for more space.”
The new sanctuary will seat more than 800 people, which is much larger than the current space. Right now, the church holds two Sunday services, one in the sanctuary and another, which is already too full, in the Recreation Outreach Center gym. When the new building is finished, both services will move there. This will let the church keep growing and allow the gym to be used again for recreation and ministry.
Even with construction underway, Richter said the church’s mission has not changed.
“A church is not a building; a church is the people,” he said. “It’s not about bricks and mortar. It’s about God changing people’s lives.”
A recent milestone in the project was the installation of the sanctuary’s steeple, which Richter called “mind-blowing” to see. He said the new building is meant to serve both church members and the wider community.
“It’d be my desire that as people drive by that building, it gives them a little bit of hope,” Richter said.
During construction, members of the congregation wrote words of encouragement, prayers and messages of love on the stage and balcony, leaving a lasting imprint on the new space.
The construction team also feels a personal connection to the project. Paul Levering, who has worked on other church additions, said this sanctuary is much larger and more complex than past projects.
“This is much bigger than what we have built here before,” Levering said. He said he thinks the stained-glass windows and the size of the space will make a big impression when it’s finished.
Levering said building a church is especially meaningful to him. “I just love seeing things come together, but especially things to do with the church and things that will point people to God,” he said.
As work goes on, Richter said he hopes the new sanctuary will feel welcoming to both longtime members and newcomers.
“I hope they feel love,” he said. “I hope they feel the love of God, and I hope they feel the love of other people and that with God they can always find hope.”
The sanctuary is expected to be finished by the end of June 2026.
