Likely Community Church Restoration

Likely Community Church, first called the Wheeler Memorial, was established in 1894 by 12 members and at the time Reverend L.L. Wallace. In 1911 Likely Community Church was moved from the south end of town and planted next door north to the Likely Post Office. The Likely Community Church used to be a historical focal point in our little town of Likely, California but has since become a quiet and partially hidden memory of the life it once had.

Likely Community Church has had a rich history of weekly church services, baptisms, weddings and funerals. Unfortunately, doors closed after 1950 and has since only seen a couple of weddings and baptisms, until 2022 when doors opened back up to regular Church services, with a full-time pastor who relocated to Likely, CA from North Carolina. Since Pastor Gary D. Purgason has revived the life of the Church and congregation, a new excitement can be felt across the town holding big dreams and visions of things to come!

Plans have recently been arranged to move the Likely Community Church to a donated parcel, located across the street east from its present location. Hours of brush removal, landscaping, and remodeling are becoming a reality, as heaps of branches begin to stack, equipment moves in and out, and flyers get sent out across the county requesting prayer and blessings to give our beloved Church a new location and makeover.

The idea to move and remodel the Church to a new location has several facets. A remodeled building will give a respectable new life to a dormant historical place of worship, which has sadly been falling apart for the past several years. The new location will have a large parking area, handicap accessibility, a playground for kids to play, and plenty of room for weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other events which will be used solely to bless the community and those around us. Since the Church presently has only an old outhouse (somewhat) attached to the outside of the building, plans to rebuild new bathrooms will be an essential need.

The new location with room to engage, playground equipment for kids to play and manicured landscaping will create a welcoming appearance and a pleasant place to stop for worship or any offered event. The newly remodeled Church will be the focal point of our beautiful town, a comforting sight to both locals and passer-byers.

We thank you for prayers during this time of transition – for laborers to come, blessings over those working and involved in planning, and for financial needs to be met.