REFINISHED ALTAR TABLE
FEBRUARY, 2017
FEBRUARY, 2017
Our altar table was found in five separate pieces, in the hay mow of an old dairy barn on Up County Road, here in Worcester. It came to the second floor of the church in 1985, and has resided there ever since, waiting patiently for some attention. In the fall of 2016, Lee Lattimer took the flat oak pieces back to Schoharie, where a black, bubbled finish was removed. During January and February the base was moved to the organ shop, where Zachary Hogan removed the finish from the legs, exposing the maple wood underneath. At the same time the flat oak boards were glued back together. After many hours of removing the remaining sludge of the original finish, a new wipe-on finish was applied. You may notice that there are still a few “battle scars” that tell us there was another earlier life that we know nothing about. We do not know the original builder of our table, but evidence points very strongly towards the fact that it was not manufactured in a furniture factory. Instead, it was a single piece built by a woodworker, perhaps local, and one who was skilled in working with a lathe, hence the interesting turnings on the legs. The components used in the construction would seem to indicate that it was probably constructed somewhere between 1900 and 1930. So, after reaching approximately one hundred years of age, our altar table has been “resurrected” to a new and useful life. |
CARPET REMOVAL and FLOOR REFINISHING
JUNE, 2017 and JUNE 2019
In 1983 new carpeting was laid in the sanctuary to replace burgundy wool carpeting (added in 1939) that had become badly worn. In early 2017 it was determined that this carpet needed to be removed due to wear and a “bubble” in the flooring in the back of the sanctuary. In June, 2017 the carpet and the plywood underneath were removed in sections, moving the pews as necessary. At that time no decision was made regarding replacement. After inspection by flooring experts, the decision was made to refinish the wood flooring, allowing us to savor the reverence of walking the same ground where past worshipers have trod. In May 2019, the pews were removed and placed on the dais and in the Family Meeting Room. With the aid of a grant from Robinson-Broadhurst, work began in June by Adam Scudder Woodworking. Unnecessary furnace grating was removed, small holes filled and the whole floor sanded. Four coats of acrylic finish were applied, giving the floor a bright sheen. Pews were replaced in late July. |
|
HANDICAP RAMP
2019
2019
A NEW DOVE
SUMMER, 2021
Due to a roof leak, the interior dome above the baptistry suffered plaster damage. This necessitated complete restoration of the dome, including replastering and repainting. These pictures show the dove before the damage, the result of the water leak, then progressive work on the area. You will note that the dove is now pictured with outstretched wings, signifying the spirit of welcome to all who enter our sanctuary.
Preliminary work was done by David Krchelich, with Paul Marcellino designing and painting the finished piece. |