CONWAY — Despite rainy conditions, roughly 40 people attended the United Congregational Church of Conway candlelight vigil outside of the church on Sunday at 8 p.m. The church, built in 1841 and rebuilt in 1885, is going to be torn down following the February 2017 tornado that rendered the building beyond repair.
Members of the church, surrounding churches, residents and others gathered outside of the church doors, some on the steps, others outside of the perimeter fence.
Rev. Candice Ashenden said while the building may be coming down, the church is made of the community.
“We are thanking you for the support of the church all these years and reminding you that the church is still here,” said Ashenden. “We’re still strong and we are not a building.”
She said during her tenure of more than 14 years, there were a variety of experiences and activities the church had.
After reading a litany, attendees were welcomed to share memories of the church.
Jenny Hassel Coliskey said she is reminded of her childhood when she thinks of the church.
“I can still remember what it smelled like when I walked through the doors,” Hassel Coliskey said. “It was always cool no matter what the temperature was outside. I remember racing downstairs to get to my Sunday school class and skipping the last two steps and jumping to the bottom.”
Much like Hassel Coliskey, Michael Tillyer’s memory involved his senses. He said he remembered the first time he stepped inside of the church.
“My first memory of coming into this place was pure peace, the white light coming through the windows — it was pure peace,” Tillyer said.
People referenced potluck dinners, strawberry festivals and other food-related events. Ashenden said the church does food well.
Mary McClintock said her favorite memory was the Conway cans day.
“We got a whole bunch of apples and made way more apple sauce than we had containers for and called everyone we knew up with containers to get apple sauce,” McClintock said. “That was a great time of community in this building.”
One woman, Donna French, said she remembers her mother Thelma French especially, when thinking of the church.
“Today was the first time I cried since she died,” said French. “Her spirit is here and her claim to fame was being the person in the picture in the Yankee magazine for the chicken pie supper. It’s been a family place for us even though very few of us live in the area. Mom’s pew is the fourth one down on the left, with a cushion.”
Thelma French had a memorial bench in the church which was destroyed by a tree during the tornado.
“It will be replaced,” said Ashenden. “The steps are being saved so that we can do that. It will be out of the old, it will come anew.”
Following the memories shared, the group lit their candles and sang “This little light of mine,” outside of the church before dispersing.
The church is also celebrating its 250th anniversary on Saturday at Pumpkin Hollow Common from 2 to 4 p.m.