About 75 members and friends of Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Lehighton, gathered outside the church for a special groundbreaking ceremony for the church’s new Sunday school building to be built at the rear of the North Street church.

The Rev. David R. Wolfe, superintendent of the Evangelical Congregational Church, was the main speaker.

The Rev. Glenn A. Miller, pastor, said the new building is expected to cost approximately $250,000. The cost includes the partial demolition of the existing extension to the church.

Larry Fogel, church board president; Paul Hontz, chairman of the building committee; Kenneth Esrang Sr., lay delegate; Miller; and Wolfe overturned shovels of dirt.