SALISBURY, Md. -- After six years of volunteer work, members of Christ the Cornerstone Community Church watched this week as a new 15 foot tall steeple was placed on their new church building -- a former pickle factory.

According to the Daily Times, Rev. Bryan Rice, pastor of the church said the congregation first considered the old pickle factory in 1997 as a possible home for their new church.

"When my wife called, she was told it was going to be advertised [for sale] the next day," Rice said.

For about $100,000, the parishioners bought 3.3 acres and an old building that had several uses over the years, including housing a wood pallet company, a truck driving school, and in the 1950s, a pickle factory.

Rice said parishioners have accepted that part of the church's past with a sense of humor.

"We're 'The Pickle Church,' " he said, a phrase that is included on his business card.

The evolution of The Pickle Church was a slow process.

Irma Hastings, a founding member of the congregation, said they probably pumped another $100,000 into renovating the church, along with thousands of volunteer hours.

She said they have more planned renovations for the building, which already includes a small wedding chapel.

Memories vary about how much time was spent fixing up the house of worship.

Vivian Rice, the pastor's wife, said she spent almost five months creating a knitted wall afghan and a cross for the church's altar.

"I literally spent 18 hours a day knitting," she said.

Francis Smith, another founding member, said: "There's a little strip on the wall that the paint rollers didn't get. I climbed up on the scaffolding and they pushed me around while I painted."

But parishioners said few in the congregation could top the pastor's dedication.

"We told him, 'Bryan, you need to rest -- go home,' " Smith said of one hot summer day. "He said, 'This is my home.' "