Ground was broken early this month at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Towamensing, in order to erect a Christian Education Building.

Joining Pastor Robert von Frisch in turning over the first spade of earth was Wayne Billig, chairman of the church’s Long Range Planning Committee, and Charles Billig, vice president of the church.

The new building will contain four classrooms, two offices, storage areas, a kitchen and a multi-purpose room able to seat 200 people at church functions. The cost is estimated at $180,000.

Improvements to the church entrance, landscaping, paving the parking lot and modernizing the church heating system will entail another $45,000.