Building and Grounds

Pam O'Halloran

With enormous help from the Parish Fellowship Committee, the Reception Room (formerly known as the Bride’s Room) received a full makeover this spring. The room, which has been an important space for brides as well as for families before a funeral, had been used as a classroom for many years and was in an unfortunate state of wear and neglect. We are grateful to the Act II Shop for underwriting this much-needed refurbishment. If you have not yet seen the renovated space, please check it out.

Many of you will have noticed the large (and expanding) water stain on the carpet in the south wing. The roof above is original to the 1990 wing, and after several years of playing whack-a-mole with leaks here and there, it has been determined to need a full replacement. We are in the process of getting quotes and hope to have the work completed by fall.

We are also aware that the south wing hallway and classroom carpeting is in terrible condition. We will be looking into quotes to replace this as well—not a small undertaking! We will keep you posted on the timing of that project. Roof repairs were completed above the Brooks Room on the second floor. We are hopeful that these have addressed the issues leading to water intrusion in several spots in this magnificent space.

You may also have observed that the ADA entrance mechanism has been deactivated and the door locked at the north entrance of the church (our primary entrance). The wood frame of the door has been splitting and the lower hinge has come loose. A contractor has been engaged to repair it and we are waiting for their work calendar to clear so that the door may be fully functional again.

We experienced some sexton staff challenges over the winter which unfortunately led to the church being short-staffed and some cleaning and set-up work not being attended to in a timely manner. We are very pleased to announce that we have hired a new weekday sexton, Drew Ford. He is full-time, working Monday through Friday during the day. He joins Paul McCuen, also full-time, who works weekends, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings; Ethan Greenberg works on Sundays and some evenings (and lives in the Coventry House apartment); and Steve Halasz, our Maintenance Manager who works 30 hours during the week.