Groome Church plans major renovations

Groome Church, the little white building on the corner of Savannah Road and Dewey Avenue in Lewes, is proposing major renovations.

If the changes are approved, it would not be as little and it would no longer be white.

Architects’ drawings show a two-story addition that would house new meeting rooms for community groups and various church functions.

Plans also show that light-brown, cedar-shingle siding would replace the current white exterior. 

The stained glass windows would remain as they are.

The signature bell tower would be repaired and the bell made operational again, according to Josh Kiehl, a project architect.

Groome Church was built in 1904 and received an addition in 1960.

Church leaders and their representatives began navigating the city approval process May 6, with a presentation before the Lewes Board of Adjustment.

They asked the board to approve three variance requests.

The first was a 2.75-foot variance to allow the sanctuary wall facing Dewey Avenue to be bumped out to accommodate sound and lighting equipment.

The second was a 1.83-foot encroachment by part of the proposed addition on Savannah Road.

The final variance request was for a 3.5-foot height increase to allow a peaked roof on the new addition.

The changes would decrease seating in the main sanctuary from 160 to 135.

“The goal is to create a safe and accessible site. Realigning the alter and pews did result in less capacity in the sanctuary itself,” Kiehl said.

However, Pastor Rich Evans said the changes are about much more than a traditional worship setting.

“I want to get around the altar in terms of worship space. With the lesser amount of space, I see an intimacy maintaining within the liturgical worship and the honoring of the people who created Groome Church,” Evans said.

The city has received numerous letters of support for the project from groups including Lewes in Bloom, Seaside Jewish Community and Humane Animal Partners.

Some neighbors expressed their opposition, saying the addition is just too big.

“The scale of the church is just overwhelming our house,” said Vince Tamburo, who lives right next door at 609 Savannah Road. “The height requirements will impact the amount of daylight to 609 Savannah. The church already blocks daylight from entering the home for several hours.”

Tamburo and others said keeping the same style and size of the historic church would enhance the city.

Ruth Yannes said the second story is overkill.

“They don’t have a lot of people coming to church anymore, and they want to make it look like a modern church. It’s an historic church. It is part of Lewes history and should stay as it is,” Yannes said.

Yannes said the church should address the water in the basement, and then they could use that space for a kitchen and meeting rooms.

Neighbors were also concerned that the church plans to remove a tree that was planted by the late Hazel Brittingham, a beloved Lewes historian who passed away in 2024.

After weighing both sides, the BOA unanimously approved the Dewey Avenue and Savannah Road variances.

However, they rejected the proposed height increase. The vote was 3-0 with one abstention.

The BOA approval is conditional and could be modified within 30 days.

Evans said he hopes the design will ultimately get a green light.

“I hope we get to a place where everyone is in unity, and they’re respectful of all the work we’ve done on this. We were very concerned about the neighbors, so we wanted to maintain the integrity of the historic area. We’ve paid exceeding attention to detail in every area. It wasn’t done on the back of a napkin. What I heard here today was respectful insight and commentary and concern. Our hope is to celebrate those voices and make it where everyone can live in unity, harmony and love,” Evans said.

Groome will next seek approval from the Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission. That panel will consider the mass and scale of the addition, and the materials to be used on the exterior to make sure they meet the historic district guidelines.

The project must also be approved by the Lewes Planning Commission, and Lewes Mayor and City Council.