Wall Street Church embarks on major renovation program
Posted Feb 18, 2010 By Roy Lewis
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When a chunk of plaster a little over a .3 metres (one foot) square tumbled approximately 15 metres (50 feet) smashing onto the sanctuary floor just before a wedding ceremony, officials at Wall Street United Church knew it was time to take action.
Roy Lewis, St. Lawrence EMC
From left, Marg Lauridsen, Jan Purser, representing UCW - United Church Women, Joan Porter treasurer of Wall Street United Church, Diane Daub, chairman of the board at the church, and Wayne Daub representing the Yuletide Fare, the event that raised the funds, present a $10,000 cheque towards the $135,000 renovation program now underway at Wall Street United Church.
The church has embarked on a $135,000 program that has corrected the problem of the leaking roof causing the plaster to fall. But Wall Street is also proceeding with a major facelift to the sanctuary, which is among the largest church interiors in Brockville. In a study a year ago, structural engineers recommended improvements needed in the building including the replacement of the chimney and the roof.
Water leaking through the roof weakened the plaster at the left side of the high arch, which frames the chancel at the front of the church. Aside from causing a chunk of plaster to let go from the ceiling, the seeping water also stained the curve of the chancel which has a peak rising approximately 18 metres (60 feet) above the sanctuary floor.
"We realize our sanctuary is holy but this is ridiculous," quipped Col. (retired) Bob Hersey, a member of the Beautify Our Holy Space committee, which is spearheading the project.
Work has already started on the current phase with the entire roof over the sanctuary being replaced by an aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel roof, which is among the most durable roofing systems available. That work was completed last October. Hersey said the interior upgrade of the sanctuary will include repair to the plaster damaged by the water and painting the entire sanctuary. The carpet and floor in the sanctuary will be changed in the next phase of the project.
"We had to look at what we needed to do at the current time but we cannot do all the work at once because of the cost," he told members of the congregation.
The Beautify Our Holy Space committee made the decision to carry out the work at this time of year because of the availability of a qualified contractor and the price of the project.
Cleroux Construction was hired by Wall Street after church officials saw the upgrade the company had made to the interior of nearby St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church.
"If you get a chance to see the interior of St. Francis Xavier church, then do so for they did a beautiful job on their sanctuary," Hersey told members of the congregation.
Another factor in hiring the firm is its expertise since the company works solely on church renovations and then there was the price. Cleroux quoted $135,000 for the first phase of the Wall Street project, in part because the additional work would mean the company's crews could keep busy during the winter months.
Some funds have been raised but the church has embarked on a program to raise at least $88,000 by June towards the cost of the project. The effort received a boost at the last service to be held in the sanctuary before the work is to begin. The third annual Yuletide Fare, involving the sale of crafts, jams, jellies and breads at the church prior to Christmas, raised a record $10,000 this past holiday season. Organizers of the event presented the money to the Beautify Our Holy Space committee.
To complete the work, it will be necessary to erect scaffolding in the interior of the sanctuary. The church's massive organ and pipes will have to be covered with plywood to protect the instrument from the construction. The contractor will also remove damaged acoustic ceiling tiles, install drywall, paint the sanctuary walls, ceiling, railings and columns and clean the stain glass windows and varnished wood.
Because of the construction activity in the sanctuary, the congregation will hold its worship services in the church's gymnasium on the north side of the building. Church officials hope the work will be completed so the congregation can hold its Easter Sunday service on April 4 in the renovated sanctuary.
"This will be a transformed sanctuary after the work is completed," predicted Rev. Alan Bennett, a retired minister at Wall Street.
The original Methodist church on the site along Wall Street immediately east of the Brockville Courthouse and jail was constructed in 1830. That church faced to the south. The enlarged and rebuilt church was finished in 1862 with the tower added in 1880.
Faced with a growing congregation, a new and much larger sanctuary was added to the east side of the church in 1896 but even just 20 years ago, some members of the congregation still referred to the addition as "the new sanctuary." It is this room that is being upgraded in the current renovation project.
After the opening of the present sanctuary, the original church was converted into a facility now referred to as Heritage Hall. With the amalgamation of several congregations in 1925, the former Methodist church became part of the United Church of Canada and was named Wall Street United Church.
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