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Saint Nicholas Hall
In 2017, St. James committed to an ambitious $1.5 million expansion and renovation of our parish hall. This project was made possible through generous gifts from the members and friends of St. James along with assistance from the Diocese of Ohio's Planting for Tomorrow Campaign and grants from Wayne County Committee for Crippled Children and Adults, the Wayne County Community Foundation, the Laura B. Frick Charitable Trust, Barry Romich, and David Noble. The new parish hall and offices opened in 2018.
The renovation and expansion involved
• Subdividing the old parish hall to create a meeting room/library, two new restrooms, a storage room, and a nursery
• Renovating the upstairs space to create a new choir room and functional classrooms/meeting rooms
• Extending the existing basement to create a ground-level space for offices, a meeting room, and a rest room, with an
entrance ramp and steps down from the parking area
• Extending the existing parish hall to create a new, larger parish hall, kitchen, and pantry, with entrances off East North
Street and the parking area
• Adding an elevator with stops at all levels
• Extending heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning to all spaces
• Relocating the large hanging cross from the sanctuary to the west wall of the new parish hall
Groundbreaking, Construction, and Dedication
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The new parish hall was designed by AoDK, Inc. and built by Simmons Brothers Construction, Inc. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in April 2017. Completion of the project was marked with a formal dedication and consecration led by Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, on January 30, 2018. It was a glorious celebration that included parishioners, diocesan visitors, members of the Wooster community, architects, and contractors.
The parish gathered in April 2017 to break ground on the new parish hall expansion.
Parts of the old parish hall were demolished to make way for the new addition.
Bishop Mark Hollingsworth led the dedication and consecration of St. Nicholas Hall on January 30, 2018.
The parish gathered in April 2017 to break ground on the new parish hall expansion.
Using St. Nicholas Hall for Parish and Community Activities
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Our parish (fellowship) hall is named for St. Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop who is the original “Santa Claus.” In his spirit, the hall is used for various community and parish activities.​ The new space, which includes an elevator (making the entire building fully accessible for the first time), has allowed St. James to be able to expand the number of groups it can accommodate: diocesan committees, church committees, vestry, 12-step groups, Pet Food Pantry, Interfaith Justice Committee.
The new library provides the perfect space for committee meetings.
St. Nicholas Hall has plenty of space to host our annual rummage sale.
The new kitchen allows the men plenty of space to cook an amazing pancake supper on Shove Tuesday each year.
The new library provides the perfect space for committee meetings.