Growing Mormon community opens new Va. Beach church

VIRGINIA BEACH

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints searched eight years for land to build a new church.

“It’s really hard to find a lot four to five acres in Virginia Beach or Norfolk,” said Robert G. Lambourne, stake president. “We finally found this one in December 2009. We considered it to be our Christmas present.”

Their prayers were answered with the recent completion of their meeting house at 4873 Bonney Road.

An open house is planned from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, including free tours and refreshments. The first service will be held Sunday.

William F. Hinson has been a member of the Mormon community since 1975.

“Because of Mitt Romney, there’s an interest in Mormons,” Hinson said of the Republican presidential contender. “A lot of people don’t know much about our church, and this is an opportunity for them to learn something.”

Aside from the open house, Lambourne wants people to know they are always welcome.

“It’s a wonderful place for families to gather, worship the Savior, study his life and plan to do service for others,” said Lambourne.

Formerly land used primarily for light industrial operations, the site contained several old structures in various stages of disrepair. They were demolished. The new 16,000-square-foot building includes a chapel, cultural center, 26 classrooms and ecclesiastical offices.

According to Lambourne, who holds one of the many unpaid ministry positions, the new facility will relieve crowding at other church facilities.

Currently, there are three other churches in the area: one dating back to 1960 at 2741 Greendale Road in Norfolk, and the other two in Virginia Beach on Princess Anne Road and Newstead Drive.

“All of these buildings were filled to capacity for what they were designed for, plus one extra congregation,” explained Lambourne, of Bellamy Woods, noting each congregation has between 200 and 250 families.

Congregants meet for three-hour blocks consisting of a worship service, followed by Sunday school classes for each age group, and then women’s Relief Society and men’s Priesthood meetings.

Now, said Lambourne, they can hold blocks at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at all four of the local church locations.

Founded in 1830 with six people in a log cabin in upstate New York, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 14 million members in churches worldwide. In Virginia, there are more than 89,000 Mormons.