Embracing the Future
Look here for the latest updates on the restoration of St. John's historic worship space and the capital campaign which is making this amazing restoration work possible. Thanks to all who have contributed to make this dream a reality!
16 July 2020 construction update: In this dark time for our nation and world, words from our Patron Saint’s Gospel for Mission (the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it) are finding visible expression each night as St. John’s Church begins to illuminate the exterior façade of our historic worship space, second floor stained glass windows, and the Gabriel Bell Tower. Earlier this month, Dominion Energy shut down power to our building complex so that breaker boxes could be brought online to feed the new wiring in our historic worship space. This allows our contractors to complete the demolition of old breaker boxes that are currently fed by dangerous, antiquated wiring and replace them with the latest advances in dimmable and programmable LED lighting technology. As the rewiring work continues in the Nave, including retrofitting the historic pendant lights with new LED interiors, the first floor tower windows along with the Rose Window will join in this nightly illumination.
Second Quarter 2020 construction update: Our subcontractor completed emergency COVID-19 projects for Sentara Hospitals in our area which allowed for work to resume on the rewiring of St. John’s historic worship space. New electrical panels have been installed, conduits have been run through the crawl space to the north and south towers to provide access for new wiring for lighting in the Nave, and a portion of the Exsúltet Organ’s pipes were briefly removed so that new access lighting could be installed within the pipe chamber. New and much brighter LED light fixtures have been installed in the sanctuary, chancel, and band area. It is so exciting to see this final portion of our building restoration coming to fruition…and see we can in this amazing new light!
First Quarter 2020 constrution update: Phase III (exterior façade illumination of our historic worship space and interior electrical work and plaster repair) has begun! In February, interior plaster was repaired and repainted over the large brick arch between the Nave and the Chancel. In March, the extensive electrical plans for rewiring our historic worship space were 99% complete. Two light fixtures were removed and sent to Wisconsin where they will be retrofitted with modern LED interiors. Upon their return, kits will be send to retrofit the remaining fixtures in place. The COVID-19 Pandemic stopped progress as our electrical contractor left St. John’s historic worship space to increase intensive care unit capacity at local hospitals.
29 January 2020 financial update: Phase II (exterior repairs and stained glass restoration) is now complete! Renovation costs for Phase I (Parish House new roof) and Phase II (Historic church roof repairs and replacement, exterior stonework repairs, and stained glass restoration) totaled $718,778. Funds we have drawn from a TowneBank construction loan to complete the up-front costs for this project will be repaid through gifts and pledges committed to the Embracing the Future campaign. As of this date, $567,483 has been donated towards our Embracing the Future Campaign. Have yet to donate? Our goal is to have repaid the construction loan in full by our parish’s 175th birthday in 2023! It’s not too late to support this important work which will sustain the physical plant of this vital parish well into the 21st century.
Fourth Quarter 2019 construction update: Restoration of the stained glass is completed as is refinishing on the exterior mahogany doors that took quite a beating during the stonework restoration. The remainder of the exterior DuPont laminated safety glass coverings will installed by the end of January.
12 September 2019 financial update: Renovation costs for Phase I (Parish House new roof) and Phase 2 through August (Historic church roof repairs, replacement, and exterior renovations) have totaled $598,470. Thus far we have drawn $234,165 from a TowneBank construction loan to complete the up-front costs for this project. This loan will be repaid through gifts and pledges committed to the Embracing the Future campaign.
29 August 2019 construction update: Meet Nathan Slemmer and David Moomjian from Epiphany Stained Glass Studios! This is the talented duo who will be on site over the next several months completing the restoration of our stained glass windows.
15 August 2019 construction update: The “big reveal” of St. John’s spectacularly restored exterior was the talk of the town at last week’s National Night Out! Limestone restoration work at ground level will be completed this week and Epiphany Studios will spend the final quarter of the year working their way around the building to restore the remainder of the stained glass windows.
1 August 2019 financial update: Renovation costs for Phase I (Parish House new roof) and Phase 2 through July (Historic church roof repairs, replacement, and exterior renovations) have totaled $526,751. Thus far we have drawn $162,446 from a TowneBank construction loan to complete the up-front costs for this project. This loan will be repaid through gifts and pledges committed to the Embracing the Future campaign. Thanks to all who are sacrificially giving to make this important work possible! As of 8/1, we have received $473,387 in gifts to the Capital Campaign. Thank you!
1 August 2019 construction update: The “big reveal” of St. John’s spectacularly restored exterior is now underway! As the scaffolding is removed, limestone restoration work at ground level can be completed, Epiphany Studios will be able to work their way around the building to restore the remainder of the stained glass windows, and interior electrical work and plaster repair will begin.
27 June 2019 construction update
13 June 2019 construction update
6 June 2019 construction update: Scaffolding reached the copper cross at the top of the Gabriel Bell Tower this week!
30 May 2019 construction update
9 May 2019 construction update
2 May 2019 construction update
25 April 2019 construction update
18 March 2019 construction update: Erection of scaffolding began on March 14 and Phase II is now underway, beginning with restoration work on the exterior of St. John's historic worship space.
27 February 2019 update: Construction Loan closing is completed with TowneBank.
25 January construction 2019 update: Phase I (Parish House roof and interior plaster repairs) is completed for $44, 552 ($7,400 under budget).
27 December 2018 construction update: Phase I began with the replacement on the Parish House roof on December 3-11. Interior plaster repairs on the second floor of the Parish House will begin in Janauary.
20 December 2018 Capital Campaign Update: total pledges and gifts: $993,034
Woo-hoo! We have exceeded our campaign goal of $805,000 and our first challenge goal of $929,000. This means that we do not have to take on long-term debt to complete the three major restoration projects on our historic worship space!!! We are only $74,616 from reaching our final challenge goal.
Capital Campaign Brochure Insert
