Additions To Two New Tampa Churches Coming Along Nicely

By Matt Wiley

Worshippers at two of New Tampa’s oldest churches may be more accustomed to hearing the sound of construction than church bells in recent months, as both St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church are in the process of expanding their facilities.

Located off Cross Creek Blvd., St. Mark’s current worship space is dwarfed by the massive new church sanctuary being built (photo) just across the sidewalk from its main entrance. The $10.1-million sanctuary project broke ground last January and is expected to be completed by Saturday, June 6, for a dedication ceremony.

“We’re very excited about the new sanctuary,” says St. Mark’s director of marketing Valerie Mainguy. “It’s really going to be incredible.”

The current worship space, measuring 28,000 sq. ft., was built in 2000, three years after St. Mark’s began holding mass in the gymnasium of Paul R. Wharton High (located on Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd.).

With more than 3,500 families currently in the congregation, the church finally will have some extra space to breathe. The new 35,000-sq.-ft. building will feature a massive sanctuary capable of seating 1,325 people, as well as a 225-seat daily chapel that church members will have access to 24 hours a day. Although separated by a removable glass partition, during holidays, that area can be opened up as overflow seating, expanding the sanctuary’s seating capacity to 1,550.

Mainguy says that much of the custom artwork that will adorn the walls and floors of the sanctuary is being brought in from Italy, including a 13-ft. sculpture of the Crucifixion that will be secured to a massive 35-foot, 40-ton cement cross positioned overlooking the altar. The new building also will feature sculptures of the “Prodigal Son” and the “Burning Bush.”

The sanctuary also includes a baptismal font that people will be able to step down into to be baptized one day per year, which will be covered in glass the rest of the year.

For more information, please visit StMarkTampa.org or call 907-7746.

 

TB Presbyterian Addition To Be Finished By Easter

Just about two miles north and west on BBD, Tampa Bay (TB) Presbyterian Church — the first-ever church building built in New Tampa (in 1988) — also is in the process of expanding. In fact, church officials say the addition should be completed in time for this Easter Sunday — Sunday, April 5. 

Rev. Freddie Fitz says that TB Presbyterian will hold a dedication ceremony at 9:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday to commemorate the completion of the expansion.

“Our mission is to bring (more) people to Jesus Christ,” Rev. Fitz says. “This addition gives us the facilities to make accomplishing that goal much easier.”

Fitz says that he and the congregation of more than 100 families are extremely excited. “It’s not a big addition, but it’s much needed extra space,” Rev. Fitz says, noting that the expansion adds space for storage, two additional classrooms and three offices, increasing the church’s size by 3,168 sq. ft. for a total of about 14,000 sq. ft.

“We saw a need for additional classrooms for Sundays and Wednesdays for our children’s program and music program,” Rev. Fitz explains. “Everything was maxed out. And, we never had enough storage.”

Rev. Fitz invites the community out to the dedication ceremony and Easter service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 5.

For additional information, please visit TampaBayPresbyterian.org or call 973-2484.