Historic Preservation Committee
2008 Historic Preservation Committee
Co-Chairs: Sherri Dietrich, Brenda Hamilton
Sally Johns, Maureen McNiff, Charles “Ted” Smith, Seth Stewart, Henry Wyatt, Jim Van Dyke
The Preservation Committee continues to pursue a threefold commission:
1. Make recommendations to the Wardens and Vestry that allow St. Andrew’s to carry out maintenance projects with sensitivity to preservation, restoration and renovation.
2. Organize a parish archive – a written, photographic and oral history – that documents our past and informs current and future undertakings.
3. Capital campaign planning, grant writing and other fund raising to create an endowment that is earmarked for architectural preservation activities.
Follow-Up to Building Condition Survey
Continued collaboration with Barba & Wheelcock, architects, clarified some questions about the Building Condition Survey (BCS) reported in last year’s annual report. Information was gathered about the atrium roof, bell tower, lichen growth on the exterior stucco, interior paint details, fire detection/suppression systems, and site design issues to deal with drainage.
Reredos Project
An urgent concern identified by the BCS was the attachment of the reredos to the altar wall of the church. Warren Construction Co. was engaged to remove the reredos, make structural reinforcements to the piece itself, and re-engineer the attachment to the wall. This work provided a rare opportunity to have paint preservationist Tony Castro examine and document the only surviving piece of Vaughan’s original stenciling which is on the wall behind the reredos. A tracing was made and a sample taken that will allow for future restoration of this exquisite work. These documents now reside in the diocesan archive. This project provided many excellent lessons in managing this kind of work.
Undercroft
Preservation Committee has been an active participant in discussions with Vestry and the Junior Warden about problems of moisture infiltration and mold in the Undercroft. A liason from the committee will be part of the newly convened Building & Grounds committee that will supervise the project to ameliorate these issues that is being designed in consultation with Barba & Wheelcock.
Partners for Sacred Spaces (PSP)
We are participating in a year-long training program designed “to help congregations develop resources for their older or historic buildings as assets for ministry.” While the ultimate goal of this work involves planning and executing a capital campaign for endowment, the perspective is broader than simply compiling a “to do” list of projects and figuring out how to pay for them. The point of PSP is to help us see how our sacred space is an asset to the larger community and how we can use our space to accomplish our spiritual mission.
Sherri Dietrich & Brenda Hamilton