NORWAY – A former church building is once again serving its community. Officials marked the opening of the Norway Community Center, located at 5004 Norway Road, with a ribbon-cutting event last Thursday. "It's a beautiful day and the facility is simply beautiful, beautiful," longtime Norway resident Mary Bell said.
"I like it." Bell attended the ribbon-cutting event with about three dozen other people. When asked what occasions she'd like to see held at the Norway Community Center, Bell said, "Something like a baby shower, maybe a wedding event and just about any kind of event because I love the church.
I love the building itself. It's beautiful." Norway Baptist Church held its last service there on June 30, 2019.
The campus was sold to Orangeburg County for about $225,000 in March 2023. Diana Walker, a lifelong member of the church, says "it helps" to see the campus used again for various types of fellowship opportunities. "It's an opportunity for our community to come together, fellowship, things like that.
We're trying to make it available to everybody. We are trying for unity a lot, you know. We need that," she said.
The possibilities for the campus seem nearly endless. For instance, Walker said someone offered to provide sewing machines for use at the center. Walker envisions dance classes, Bible studies, health fairs and "just whatever comes up.
" She noted the Alcoholics Anonymous group will hold meetings at the center. The group will have its own room for meetings. I.
