On behalf of Woodland Christian Church, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Mayor Gorton, to Zach Worsham and our partners at Winterwood, and to the many contributors—large and small—who made the completion of Woodland’s renovation possible.
This moment belongs to all of you.
For more than a century, this church has been part of the civic and spiritual fabric of Lexington. Our church began with a revival held at the old Woodland Auditorium in 1908. This sanctuary was completed in 1924 and now enters its second century of service to this community.
But today is not simply a celebration of longevity.
It is a testament to renewal.
Over the years, this church has tried to live out a progressive mission—one that seeks not only to shape the lives of those who worship here, but to apply Christian ethics to real social problems and to bring a measure of wholeness to a world too often divided.
But in recent years, we faced a hard truth. Our membership had declined.
Our building had aged.
An architectural review revealed the need for repairs—far beyond our capacity. Like many congregations across the country, we had to ask not only how to preserve a building, but whether we could preserve a purpose.
The answer, we believe, is what surrounds us today.
By investing our property through a remarkable partnership with Winterwood—and with support from the city, the state, and private investors—we created The Oaks at Woodland, providing 38 homes—places of safety, dignity, and stability.
Some of those homes will belong to seniors who have spent years choosing between rent and medicine—
who will now have a place of their own, a door that locks, and a community that knows their name.
This is not simply a renovation.
It is a redefinition.
It says that a church is not only the space where people gather— it is the good it creates beyond its walls.
Our congregation helped bring this vision to life— an effort that reflects something deeper than funding; it reflects faith.
Faith that this place still matters.
Faith that service still matters.
Faith that community still matters.
And we are not finished.
What begins today is not the end of a project, but the continuation of a mission. This building will once again host worship.
It will support community arts.
It will expand outreach to those facing food insecurity and housing instability.
And it will welcome new neighbors— our senior residents— into the daily life of this place.
So today, we do more than reopen a building—
We reaffirm our purpose.
We honor our past.
And together,
we build a future.
Easter Worship
April 5 at 10AM | 530 East High Street
Come and see! You’re invited to celebrate the new life that abounds at Woodland Christian Church and The Oaks at Woodland. Join us for Easter Worship and a joyful homecoming to our historic sanctuary for the first time in 6 years!
💌 Click here for more details and invite a friend.