In a specially called session of the Quarterly Conference on July 28, 1963, trustees were authorized to buy the duplex located at 225 Poplar for parking space. Ground-breaking ceremonies for a new sanctuary followed on May 23, 1965, as did a formal cornerstone laying on December 5.
The fourth sanctuary, built at a cost of $194,000, was located just one block west of the 1925 church at South 2nd and Poplar (1318 South 2nd). Sporting a ground-level entrance, the 1965 sanctuary has paneled walls and retains the Gothic roof to relate it to older parts of the complex. It also covers a portion of the former church parking lot.
The first church service was held in the new church on January 2, 1966. In November 1972, the church purchased a digital Allen Computer organ and dedicated it on Sunday, February 17, 1974. And, a dedication service for the sanctuary was held on March 15, 1981, which was also the 100th anniversary of the city of Abilene.
All four church sanctuaries have been located within a block of one another (the block between South 2nd and Butternut, and South 2nd and Poplar).
Note: In 2005, the Abilene post office requested the church change addresses - from 1318 South 2nd to 202 Butternut - even though no change was made in the location of the church, nor any church offices.
