New Salem Baptist Church is clearing the remains of the church building destroyed in a Dec. 26 fire.

“We’re in the process of demolition of the burn site,” said Pastor Mike Barnes.

“We’re trying to be good stewards,” Barnes said, by recycling the metal and materials from the building.

He said the recycling is being done locally and “they’ve been very good to us.”

All proceeds from the recycling are going into the New Salem Building Fund, set up to take donations at United Bank.

The church is planning to rebuild, and will continue on in the interim.

“We are trying to locate and facilitate temporary classroom buildings for Sunday school classes,” he said.

He said the church is working on getting the county paperwork and permits completed to make it happen.

The church is also “carrying on,” Barnes said, with services and Sunday school being held at the Family Life Center across the street in the interim.

“We had an excellent day of worship,” he said of the New Year’s Eve services.

Worship services and Sunday school will continue on Sundays in the Family Life Center, at the same times, 9:45 a.m. for Sunday school and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. for worship services. With school still out, he said, a pre-planned family night of fellowship was held Wednesday night.