DRESDEN — First United Methodist Church held a dedication ceremony for its sanctuary and educational wing on a Sunday in 2025. The event followed the completion of construction on the new church building that year.
A tornado destroyed the previous church building in 2021. The original church structure was built in the early 1920s.
After the tornado, workers discovered a cornerstone box containing artifacts from when the church was first built. Reverend Nancy Varden said, "That box of memory preserved and told a story. It was remembrance, a hopeful sign of what renewal and rebuilding could have."
Church officials created and installed a new cornerstone outside the building to preserve artifacts and continue its legacy. The new cornerstone is situated outdoors on a pedestal topped with a bell.
Sarah Pentecosta, a member of the church board of trustees, began attending the church at three years old. She said, "After the tornado, it was just so devastating. It took us several years to get rebuilt. So, it's just so meaningful to come back to the same church and see us rebuilt." She was married and baptized at the church, and her husband's funeral was held there. Her daughter was also baptized at the church.
Three stained glass windows survived the tornado, and they remain on display in the new church. The church holds Sunday school at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. The church is open to public attendance.