Lebanon — First Baptist Church officials said they will move Sunday services to the Lebanon Middle School beginning this weekend, a move that will cost them more money, but afford them more flexibility.

The congregation has been meeting at the Masonic Lodge on Green Street since a Lebanon man allegedly set fire to the historic church in late December, destroying it.

Church Moderator Keith Davio said the new space is handicap accessible, allows for more flexibility in terms of use and space and has better parking.

The church will rent two classrooms and the cafeteria at Lebanon Middle School on Moulton Avenue every Sunday through the end of March.

The space and a custodian to clean up will cost the church about $530 per Sunday, according to information provided to the Valley News by Dana Arey, Lebanon’s facilities director.

The calculation is based off the School Board’s policy for renting space to non-profits, he said.

The church used the Masonic Lodge at no cost.

The church’s needs made the upgrade to the school’s space worth it, Davio said.

“It allows us greater flexibility to better serve the community with what we offer on Sunday,” Davio said. “We are trying to figure out the overall best scenario. From a business point of view, this means trying a couple of different things to find out the most cost-effective return on investment for the services we provide; in this case, the service is spiritual worship.”

Attendance has still been on par with what it was when the congregation met in its normal quarters, Davio said.

“No space is ideal other than our church,” said Jim Newcomb, the chairman of the Deacon board. “(The school) seemed to be the one that best met our needs at this time. We liked the lodge, but a downside was the bathrooms. They aren’t accessible for our elderly.”

Sunday service begins at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, church officials are still in the early stages of picking up the pieces from the fire.

The church’s board is in the process of forming a committee tasked with coming up with a vision for a new church.

Demolition hasn’t yet begun on the ruined structure. When that process will start is unclear, Davio said.

Overall, he said, “things are going well.”

“The community has been responding very well,” he said. “It has been really nice.”

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.