WINCHESTER, Va. -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Winchester Virginia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Aug. 9. Elder Robert M. Daines, United States Northeast Area Presidency of the Church, presided at the event conducted by Aaron Blight, president of the Winchester area congregations.

Nearly 500 guests from the region gathered at the 11.27 acre site at 200 Merrimans Lane. Local government, civic, and interfaith leaders attended the groundbreaking, including Winchester Mayor Les Veach, Virginia State Delegate Bill Wiley, Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Reverend Bjorn Lundberg of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Pastor David Young of Bethel Lutheran Church, and J.J. Smith, previous owner of the temple site.

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