Apex Baptist Church has stood on the corner of Salem and Chatham streets for the past 153 years.
It was built the same year Apex was founded, in 1873, and has grown up with the town. A new sanctuary was built in 1912, and the church expanded again in 1951, 1961, 1987, and 2000. Today, it includes a preschool, works with local nonprofits, and provides a space for community meetings. And it’s still growing.
Attendance at the church’s three Sunday morning services has doubled since 2018, according to Matthew Carpenter, a lawyer representing Apex Baptist. To deal with the increase, the church proposed building a parking garage behind their main building. There was only one problem…