Progress Summary

November 15, 2024

We continue to make progress toward rebuilding St James’ Church and reopening the Large Parish Hall.

Church Exterior

Since the last update, the stone masons have been hard at work on the tops of the church walls. All had to be checked, fortified, and repaired to be able to support the weight of the new wooden roof structure. This work should be finished by the end of November.

The roof structure is scheduled to be installed the first week of December. A roofer has been contracted to install the insulation, plywood decking and waterproofing membranes by mid-December. The membranes are designed to withstand the winter weather. The metal cladding will be installed in the Spring

Church Interior

Before beginning interior work, we must determine our needs for venting, ductwork, and electrical wiring. We have selected a Mechanical Engineering firm to analysis the site and recommend the most effective HVAC solutions. We will also consult sound and lighting engineers to ensure that we maximize our lighting potential and enhance the acoustic properties of the church.

During the winter months, our general contractor will bring in temporary propane heaters for the church. These have been ordered and will be arriving shortly.

Large Parish Hall

The plan to reopen the large Hall is finalized with work beginning next week. Here are the details:

  • Electricity has already been restored to the Hall and heat is currently provided by one of our original oil furnaces.

  • Fix the drywall in the basement. We will use the basement to store the things that are presently in the Large Hall and the garage

  • Install a second exit in the west wall of the Large Hall

  • We have purchased a trailer with three bathrooms to be delivered in December.

  • Install a temporary structure in front of the current hall entrance to serve as a vestibule and passageway to the bathroom trailer.

We hope to be able to use the space officially by Christmas.