Harrisville Methodist Church Breaks Ground on New Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall

The congregation celebrates the future of their church with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Members of the Harrisville Methodist Church in Ohio gathered to break ground on a new sanctuary and fellowship hall that will double the church's capacity from 100 to 200 people. The project has been years in the making, according to board chairman Dustin Kinsey, and will provide much-needed space for the growing congregation to gather and worship.

Why it matters

The new sanctuary and fellowship hall represent an exciting change for the Harrisville Methodist Church, allowing them to accommodate more community members and strengthen their congregation's future. In a time when many churches are struggling with declining attendance, this expansion project demonstrates the Harrisville church's commitment to growth and serving its community.

The details

The new sanctuary and fellowship hall will each have a capacity of roughly 200 people, more than doubling the church's existing space. Pastor Ken Staley says the additional space will not only allow more people to join the congregation, but also create a solid foundation for the church's future. The project has been in the works for years, and community members have volunteered many hours of work to make it a reality.

  • The groundbreaking ceremony took place on March 2, 2026.

The players

Harrisville Methodist Church

A church located in Harrisville, Ohio that is expanding its sanctuary and fellowship hall to accommodate a growing congregation.

Dustin Kinsey

The board chairman of the Harrisville Methodist Church, who says the expansion project has been years in the making.

Ken Staley

The pastor of the Harrisville Methodist Church, who says the new space will allow the congregation to bring more people into the church and strengthen its future.

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What they’re saying

“We're out of space in our existing one, this should double our capacity from 100 to 200 people. We need that extra capacity because we also want to provide space for people to come in, join us and have a closer relationship with Christ.”

— Dustin Kinsey, board chairman, Harrisville Methodist Church (WTRF)

“One generation shall declare your mighty works to the next – and that's our role. Whether they're 5 years old, 30, 45 years old, we need to bring more people into the kingdom.”

— Ken Staley, pastor, Harrisville Methodist Church (WTRF)

“Everyone here just voluntarily comes and gives many hours of work to the Church, because of that I think we can look forward to a long relationship here in the community and beyond.”

— Ken Staley, pastor, Harrisville Methodist Church (WTRF)

What’s next

As of now, there is no current timeline or estimation of completion for the project, as several details are still in the works.

The takeaway

The Harrisville Methodist Church's expansion project demonstrates the congregation's commitment to growth and serving its community. In a time when many churches are struggling, this project represents an exciting change that will allow the church to accommodate more people and strengthen its foundation for the future.