The first architectural plan proposed a sanctuary surrounded by church school classrooms and offices. To acquire this within available funding the sanctuary would have had to be considerably smaller than that of today. Plus, there would have been no windows other than the clerestory overhead. This concept was rejected, and the present-day configuration evolved, recognizing that lots of cooperation would be necessary for successful multipurpose utilization of the space. Future expansion would entail removal of the curtain walls between the library and choir room, giving the sanctuary an even greater wraparound configuration.

The core philosophy of the square design with worship in the center was founded on the principle of worship being central to the life of our congregation. The people would respond to God's redeeming love in gathering around - enfolding, if you will - the symbols of His word and grace, the communion table, baptismal font, and the pulpit. The entire congregation would constitute the main choir. The vested choir, important as it is in leadership, would be seated behind and with the congregation. Rather than the traditional center aisle, this configuration resulted in two with yet two more planned in the ultimate.

On completion of the several design iterations and final approval of the architectural plan, there was fulfillment of the earlier statement by the Building Committee, "As our problems are unique unto ourselves, the solutions shall also be unique, and something new and different is inevitable. We are going to realize a structure that is indeed new, honest, useful, beautiful, and meaningful in the service to God in this community."

W.R. Manchester of Alexandria was selected as the contractor. A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 24, 1965, following the morning worship service. The day was dismally cold and rainy, but it could in no manner detract from our elation over reaching this most significant milestone. The congregation made its way under umbrellas to the construction site over a pathway of cardboard boxes acquired by Carl Barnes. Lots of ceremonial "gold" shovels were available, and anyone desiring to do so, young or old, could have an opportunity to turn over some mud. Needless to say, there was ample reflection on Psalm 16:6, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."

Construction began soon thereafter by way of excavations for the building's concrete footings. This is where things became really sticky - literally. Our site's soil is a type that turns to a sticky, gooey mess when wet and is very poor in load-carrying ability. Walking in it turned one's feet to huge, heavy blobs not readily dispensed with. Wearing heavy rubber boots over work boots, I jumped into one section of the excavation to check the suitability for concrete placement. I couldn't get out; my feet were mired tight! I finally just pulled out of the rubber boots, and there they remain today to be forever an element of the concrete supporting the sanctuary wall adjacent to the parking lot!

Things only got worse. Sheer chaos reigned as the heavily loaded concrete trucks arrived, dumped their loads, and tried to depart. The area rapidly became a massively rutted mess, and several trucks sank to their axles. Their efforts to tow one another out were largely unsuccessful. Heavy-duty tow trucks were called, and it was long after dark before the concrete was in, and the trucks were out.

January was not the best season in which to initiate construction, and bad weather and muddy conditions persisted throughout. Realizing quality construction under such was another never-ending challenge. Watching concrete block and brick walls rise painfully slowly from the footings, concrete floors being placed, and completion of the many other time-consuming elements of construction was frustrating indeed in the desire for rapid attainment of the ultimate goal. Only by keeping focus on what was to come could the feeling be assuaged. Really uplifting was the day on which those beautiful, graceful laminated arches were erected, soon to be followed by the laminated beams. It was as though the church's arms were being raised upward in supplication of God's blessing.

Even more excitement prevailed for a large audience on August 6, 1965, when a huge construction crane moved in to set our gorgeous steeple into place. Handling of this unit, topped by a beautiful Celtic cross symbolizing the Scottish Church, was a delicate operation. Stabilized by guy ropes, however, the steeple was hoisted and anchored without a hitch. Some two months later, on October 3, the congregation bade farewell to the Waynewood school cafeteria and participated in Rev. Wood's first service in our new unit as Heritage's first minister. He had accepted a formal call in the previous month. There were 280 attendees. The elapsed time from church formation to this date was three and one-half years. One could almost hear a massive, collective sigh of relief and thanksgiving!