A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively planned for Sunday, Jan. 23. Construction will begin after that, Pastor Nathan Wheeler said. Rebuilding will take about a year. If all goes well, the sanctuary will be complete in time for Christmas services in 2011.

On Aug. 20, 2009, lightning struck at First Presbyterian Church of DeBary (PCUSA) on East Highbanks Avenue. The resulting fire burned the church to the ground, as members and neighbors watched, dismayed.

Eight months later, the congregation — which had been meeting at the DeBary-Orange City Seventh-day Adventist Church — came home to a temporary sanctuary that had been built on the grounds.

Now, at their Dec. 15 meeting, the DeBary City Council approved final site plans for the church’s reconstruction.

Planned are a new 14,525-square-foot sanctuary and additional parking. Classroom space for the church’s preschool will expand in what was the temporary sanctuary, which was designed as a multi-use facility.

It was a Christmas gift come early.

City Council members praised the engineers, Civil Design & Permitting Inc., and architect James P. Senatore, both of Leesburg, for working with the city planning staff on problems with buffers and fences…

Though the fire was traumatic, Wheeler said it was heartwarming to see the community rally around the church. Not only did another congregation help with space for services, the city was helpful, he said.