For the past year students have been walking past Sweet Shop on West Jefferson street and wondered what the heck is going on next door, while all the construction workers guess why students were running to class as they sit on the corner and eat their lunch. All of this construction has been the new site for the Wesley Foundation. The Wesley Foundation is a Methodist campus ministry that serves the campus of Florida State and Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee.
Courtesy: FSU Wesley
The past year and a half the community members of Wesley have been patiently awaiting the completion of their new building. At the start of fall semester in 2015, the community moved out of their previous chapel and into a fellowship hall. You may remember the Wesley Foundation’s previous chapel called the Chapel of the Upper Room otherwise referred to as the CUR. The CUR was a large building with concrete walls, lovingly nicknamed “The Bomb Shelter” by both passersby and members of the Wesley Community.
The CUR was the Wesley Foundations main worship space after it was built in the 1950s. Since the completion of the Wesley Foundation’s new building, their fellowship hall has been torn down and a construction crew has started to turn the area into a grass lot. Although both buildings were loved by both the past and present Wesley community, it was time for an update, because the building was rendered unsafe.
The Wesley Foundation’s building was completed before the start of this past winter break and the staff continued to move in even as students left. The new building symbolizes change in the community as they start to grow and end this transitional phase the community has been in since last year. Megan Eldredge, Wesley’s Assistant Director of Community and recent FSU graduate commented, “Everyone at Wesley is really excited about this new chapter in our community and the opportunities this building provides! We hope to create a welcoming environment for students at FSU and TCC and use our new building as a space to call home!”
Courtesy: Flumc.org
The Wesley community is excited to start using their new building. During the week, the building will be used by members of the community to study and hang out. The building also holds office space for the staff and a new kitchen Wesley members are excited to use to serve the community. The Wesley Foundation holds various events throughout the week open to the public. They hold a church service every Sunday at 11 a.m. and serve a weekly dinner on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m.
It is a relief for the Wesley community to be finished with construction. They recently held their first service in the new building and themed the service “home.” After a long time yearning for comfort and stability, the Wesley Foundation is happy to finally have a building to call home.
To learn more about the Wesley Foundation, visit their website or check them out on twitter @fsuwesley.