Madison--A cold, wet day did not deter the faithful members of St. James Mission in Madison from gathering for the ground-breaking of a long-awaited church.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue presided Jan. 29 as muddy Georgia clay was blessed and spades full were turned by dignitaries and parishioners from the oldest to the youngest.

The site is 12 acres of land on Vine Street in Madison , carved from a generous piece of property graced by a white, 100-year-old home. The church will be set in a pecan grove.

The 7,900-square-foot church will seat 250 people. The building will include six classrooms and a social hall in addition to the sanctuary. Future plans call for a rectory and school.

Father Michael Redden, pastor of the mission, hopes the new church will be dedicated this fall. St. James is currently a mission of St. Augustine in Covington.

Among those joining the ceremony were Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert, Father Chet Artysiewicz, Glenmary pastor of Christ Our King in Greensboro, and Father John Farrelly, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Milledgeville.

The first Mass was celebrated in Morgan County in 1967 in a kindergarten building with three families present, according to a parish history. Later Mass was celebrated for 16 years in an Episcopal church. In 1985 St. James purchased a house on South Main Street, but it soon became apparent this would not continue to serve the mission well. The land on Vine Street was purchased in 1992 and many fund-raising projects have been underway since. Jim Conrads is financial chairman and Hannah Rowan chairs the fund-raising committee.