Batavia church is still making repairs, hoping to finish in mid-August
Parishioners of the Congregational Church of Batavia were hoping to have their sanctuary back by Easter, but a massive project to repair structural roof damage is still ongoing.
Worship services have been held in Paxton Hall, part of an addition built in 2005, since last September. It was then the church discovered there was damage to all four scissors-like trusses that hold up the roof of the sanctuary, which is part of the original church built in 1856 at what is now 21 S. Batavia Ave.
Church leaders became concerned early last year when cracks appeared in plaster in the sanctuary. The sanctuary had been re-plastered when the addition was built in 2005.
An April 2007 examination by engineers revealed a crack to one of the trusses, but in September the church found out all four trusses had been damaged. The sanctuary immediately became off-limits due to safety concerns.
According to Don Schneider, leader of the church's stewardship and finance team, the project has three main phases.
Phases one and two are completed. A work deck was built six feet below ceiling level, and in phase two, the old ceiling to the sanctuary was cut out and the sprinkler system was removed.
Phase three will begin next week, weather permitting. The roof of the old church will be taken out in sections and new trusses will be installed.
Everything will be rebuilt and the sanctuary will get a new plaster ceiling.
The church will also take advantage of the full-scale construction mode to take care of a few other needs.
"We're trying to make lemonade out of lemons," Schneider said. "The pews are over one hundred years old, so we will replace them. We are also having our stained-glass windows refurbished."
Schneider said the steps to the chancel, the area around the altar, are being widened, and the pulpit and lectern will be made portable so that extra space will be available for programs.
The whole project, including the refurbishing of the windows which is being financed by a parishioner, will cost about $800,000. It is not a project that the church planned.
Schneider said the work should be done by mid-August. If all goes well, a dedication service will be held in September.
For information and to make a donation, call the church at (630) 879-1999.
Forum on faith
A dialogue on "Faith, Politics and Race" will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. The event is free and open to the public.
The discussion is sponsored by the Rev. Larry Spires, pastor of Logan Street Baptist Church in Batavia, and the Rev. Dr. David Foxgrover, pastor of the Congregational Church of Batavia.
Mazer Ahmed, a leader of the Batavia Islamic Center, also will participate. Ahmed frequently coordinates inter-faith prayer services in the Fox River Valley.
Participants will be asked to consider several topics and questions during small-group discussions and will have an opportunity to share their views with others.
For details, contact Logan Street Baptist Church at (630) 879-7190 or the Congregational Church of Batavia at bataviaucc@sbcgloabl.net or (630) 879-1999.