It feels like a miracle that we were able to pull this big 1 million dollar preservation project through! As the scaffold around the church comes down, I become once more aware of our boldness to embark on this project in the first place. Our small church family of 70 people – and we experienced something like that! Surely, without God’s grace and provision, this would not have happened.
There are some smaller issues that remain. The northern set of the handrails in front of the church will be repaired; the roofing of the pediment cornice on the Bayard-Street side of the education building will be replaced, and a permanent sign explaining the significance of our buildings will be installed by the main entrance of the church.
Then I have to submit a Final Report to the State, and from then on an annual report with pictures, providing evidence that we honor the Easement and keep the property in good shape. But, boy, am I happy that the reporting will diminish. In 2011 alone, we submitted 234 written pages and 208 pages with pictures to the State. I can only thank Architect Margaret Westfield, Project Manager Brian Monteith and Treasurer Stef Beemsterboer for always providing me with the needed documents on time!
This, of course, was only Phase I. We still have substantial building problems. The stained glass windows are sagging; the upper parts of the rose window in the steeple have even separated from the frame. Our walls need repointing very badly, and we still have unaddressed foundation problems. We will deal with these things in due time. For now, we need a break to regroup and to grow our ministry.
