Sunday, a Florence church celebrating the grand opening of its new house of worship, after going through what parishoners call six years of unexpected problems with construction.

The New Cumberland United Methodist Church on Coit Street in Florence welcomed hundreds of people Sunday.

In October of 2004, the church began renovations on their 145-year-old old building. Parishoners tell NewsChannel 15 the old structure couldn't withstand the renovations, so it was demolished.

"It was terribly damaged," recalled Reverend J. Jeannette Cooper.

"The bricks were too soft and the city gave us a stop work order so then we had to tear down and rebuild and it's really been good. Everything has been good all the way."

The resident bishop, Reverend Mary Taylor, gave the sermon Sunday. She thanked everyone for their support of the church over the past six years.