The congregation of Baileyton United Methodist Church hopes to begin holding services in its new sanctuary in March.

Pending completion of the new church building, the Baileyton UMC congregation continues to hold Sunday services in the auditorium at Baileyton Elementary School.

The new building, which includes a sanctuary, a two-story classroom wing and a Christian activity center, will replace a century-old structure that was destroyed by fire on Nov. 24, 2007.

Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Judge Ken Bailey, Jr., who chairs the church's board, said on Friday that much of the construction work on the new building is finished.

He noted some exterior siding remains to be installed, along with flooring and carpeting.

"We expect our new pews to arrive in mid-to-late February," Judge Bailey said. "Thanks to the generosity of several people, they've all been paid for."

Bailey said 29 pews are to be placed in the new sanctuary, giving it a seating capacity of about 200.

When a Greeneville Sun photographer and reporter visited the new church building on Thursday, subcontractors were busy installing flooring tile in the hallways.

A spokesman for GRC Construction Services, the general contractor, said carpet for installation in the new sanctuary is on order.

The sanctuary's pulpit remains to be finished, the spokesman said.

He noted that sound and video equipment also remains to be installed in a second-floor balcony area that overlooks the sanctuary.

Stairway treads and other construction materials were still being stored in the sanctuary on Thursday.

Judge Bailey said efforts have been made to retain as much of the flavor of the original church building as possible.

He noted, for example, that the new building features a bell tower similar to the one in the original building.

But the new structure includes much more classroom space than did the church building that burned.

The new church building will include an activity center. In addition to hosting church functions, it will be available to the Baileyton community for dinners and other special events.

A GRC Construction Services spokesman said sewer and water service had been connected.

The new building was designed by Greeneville architect Dave Wright.

The rebuilding of the burned church received a major boost from an Aug. 23, 2008, benefit barbecue and auction held at Baileyton Elementary School.

The event was planned and carried out by an ad hoc organization of churches "from Bulls Gap to Fall Branch" who worked together to make it a success, according to key organizer Dan Duggar, a member of Hardins Chapel United Methodist Church.

The barbecue and benefit auction involved some 370 volunteers from as many as 50 churches and several Ruritan Clubs, Duggar said.

The event raised $75,696 to help rebuild.