ORANGE PARK - After breaking ground at 1331 Miller St. last year, St. Simon Baptist Church is ready to embrace a new chapter in its story.

It's been almost four years since an arsonist set fire to the historic building.  And construction is set to begin on the new sanctuary later this year. 

Church Administrator Deacon Lester Perry said it’s been a long time coming. 

“All in all, we’ve come a long way. We’ve got the site plan, and it’s 95% done,” he said. 

The 9,100 square-foot metal building will be almost triple the size of the original, providing a complete indoor campus to accommodate members.

Before the fire, the church had already been in the middle of an expansion. Adding a new youth department, kitchen, fellowship hall and upgrades to the sanctuary, the development was 80% completed at the time of the incident. 

Perry said the new building will include all of these previous efforts and then some. He said the church has already started mortgage payments, which has put it even further ahead of the game. 

All that remains is to substantially complete the church's foundation and gain permit approval from the town.

“Once they seal the drawings, it goes to the town, and that’s it,” Perry said. 

The congregation, which currently serves in Challenge Enterprises Plaza on Kingsley Avenue, is excited about what’s to come. 

For a year and a half after the church burned down, they continued in the church’s parking lot. Even with dwindling membership, he said they kept their faith. 

After shopping around the local area for leasing opportunities, Perry said Challenge Enterprises offered them a space in late 2022. He said the church is forever grateful for their kindness.

"Our hearts go out to them because they've been a blessing to us," he said.

He said the church is bursting at the seams, with around 90 members attending Sunday services. With the help of the new building, he believes the church, which has garnered tremendous support from the community, will expand even more.

Until then, he said they are steadfast and ready for their future.

“We stand for Christ,” Perry said. “We stand for what’s supposed to be done.”

Perry said the building's anticipated completion date is March 2025.