It feels like home: Newly rebuilt Somers Congregational Church to welcome the community

SOMERS Almost 2 years after the Somers Congregational Church burned to the ground, the newly rebuilt church is ready to welcome the community with open arms.

Walking through the church on Thursday, the smell of fresh paint filled the completed sanctuary with its red and white pews that can accommodate 350 people 50 more than the previous sanctuary.

The church, located at 599 Main St., is basically complete with only some landscaping and minor paint touchups left to be done. The church and its congregation have come a long way since the devastating fire that broke out late on New Years Day 2012, destroying the meeting house that had been built in 1842. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Rev. Barry Cass, 62, said Thursday that the community has grown together since the church started to rebuild in September 2012.

I think we all made the best of a really lousy situation, Cass said. Were so proud of whats been accomplished.

On Saturday an open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so the community can visit the rebuilt church.

A special worship service to dedicate the church will be held on Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. The public is invited to a service, which will feature music from the church choirs and a special message from Cass.

Cass estimated the total cost of rebuilding the church at $8 million, with $6.5 million coming from an insurance settlement. More than $1 million has been raised since the fire, with $250,000 still needed to cover all of the churchs rebuilding costs, he said.

What people have given has been amazing, Cass said, adding that donations will be used to cover final bills for the churchs construction.

The architecture for the project was designed by the Simsbury-based Clohessy, Harris, and Kaiser architectural firm, while the construction was completed by the North Haven-based Petra Construction, Cass said.

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It feels like home: Newly rebuilt Somers Congregational Church to welcome the community