Sanctuary Update - March 11, 2024

The past several weeks have seen a tremendous amount of progress in the sanctuary. ARSI abated asbestos glue under the old tile. Carpenters from GBH Builders have framed the organ loft wall and the decorative reredos behind the altar and baptismal font. Electricians from Gooch Electric have roughed in the lighting upgrade. Expert plasterers have also patched and filled the walls where the old light fixtures hung.

Carpenters built the floor-to-ceiling scaffolding to construct the new reredos, a liturgical furnishing that literally means “behind back,” (arere 'behind' + dos 'back'). This decorative screen stands behind the altar, symbolizing the connection between Heaven and earth that happens in the Lord's Supper. Our new altar piece is framed in wood and will be finished in sheetrock. It stands in the same footprint as the old curtain and will have a shelf for our historic crucifix and RGBW backlights behind each panel.

The new baptismal font base will sit in the center of this new platform in the east transept. The back wall has a smaller reredos to tie into the altar piece. It will also be finished in sheetrock.

The organ loft wall will be screened in grill cloth to cover the organ speakers. New red oak panels will cover the bottom half, and the original battens will be restained to retain the original design. Scott Homfeldt will be building a new choir screen.

Electricians have been working to run power and sound cables under the floor and behind walls to avoid any surface mount conduit in the sanctuary.

Jim Gooch hung a cardboard mock up of the new pendant light to verify size and position for the lighting designers.

New accent lights for the baptismal font and nativity set will be recessed in the transept ceiling.

Plaster workers filled and patched holes from the old light fixtures.

Check back to this blog for future construction, design and planning, and fundraising updates.

In Christ,

Andrew Wachter - Sanctuary Committee - Chairman of the Trustees