Tropical Storm Harvey did not delay Memorial Lutheran Church Katy’s Oct. 29 dedication of its new multi-million-dollar building expansion, but flooding from the storm damaged the church’s old preschool and parsonage, according to Senior Pastor John Davis.

Located at 5810 3rd St., Katy, the new building measures just less than 24,000 square feet and will contain a fellowship hall, kitchen and room for an expanded preschool program. The church’s old preschool could hold 133 children and the new space was originally intended to allow a 173-student enrollment.

That structure was unharmed but Davis said Memorial Lutheran’s old preschool building took on 6-8 inches of water during the flooding in late August. The congregation decided Oct. 1 to tear down the old preschool—which Davis said was already scheduled for demolition—as well as the parsonage within 45 days.

The parsonage will not be rebuilt, he said.

The church canceled services Aug. 27, which Davis said was the first such in his 24 years of ministry. All belongings in the old preschool building were moved to the church’s gymnasium.

Since Katy ISD resumed classes Sept. 11, preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds resumed while classes for younger children are still not in session due to space constraints.

“In addition to the old preschool building being a total loss, the parsonage also took on about 12-18 inches of water,” Davis said. “The church office took on a couple of inches of water and is still drying out before we can reconstruct. We are currently [working] out of multiple areas of the church.”

In addition, David said three church staffers and 31 member families suffered flooding at their homes, including his own.