By Anne Semmes
Sentinel Correspondent
The sprawling campus of Christ Church Greenwich on East Putnam Avenue is making its way through a major and historic makeover, and just in time.
“There was an urgency for these 1910 buildings as all the external elements had reached their life expectancy 25 years ago,” said Christ Church’s Priest-in-Charge, The Rev. Dr. Jim Lemler.
“The urgency was to do these major projects or avoidance could bring disaster,” added Lemler. Lemler’s responsibility extends beyond his 2000-plus member parish. “Every year,” he said, “this campus serves some 5,000 people from the wider community for a vast number of community meetings and events.” “It’s like a cathedral in the Middles Ages – it’s a great gathering place.”
Indeed, like something from the novel, Pillars of the Earth, the restoration can seem overwhelming.
Donning a hard hat, Lemler led the way into the heart of the renovation, the sanctuary. Emptied out as of late April, it looked eerily as it might have in 1910, a great cavernous space with walls newly standing and stained glass windows yet to be installed. The 1912 “Transfiguration” rear window, one of the sanctuary’s finest, was sent off weeks ago to the stained glass masters – the Rohlf’s Stained Glass Studio in New York to have its leadings replaced, belatedly as its lifespan was only 75 years, said Lemler.
“Some of the windows were in danger of collapse,” he said, “with significant window parts bowing out.” Amongst those already restored and thickly packaged from harm were the Altar Window – “The Good Shepherd,” “the East Wall “Resurrection” window, and West Wall “Ascension” window.
High above was a false floor the length of the sanctuary installed for the ceiling restoration. “The plaster has not been touched for decades,” said Lemler. The beams, pews and all other wooden furnishings were busily being brought down to bare wood to be refinished he said “to their original glory.”
“The roof was in worse shape than we thought it was but the ‘bones’ of the building are still good,” he added.
To address the leaks and deteriorating stonework stone masons have been busily tuck-pointing stone after stone, removing old grout and adding new. Boxes of New England slate sit beneath the scaffolding surrounding the church waiting to replace the old slates with the new.
With work started two years or more on the adjacent Chapel to allow more flexible seating and a new entryway Lemler has been able to hold services, funerals and weddings in the Chapel. But for larger spaces he’s had to play “musical churches,” depending on the reciprocity of other churches. “We have done funerals in First Congregational, Second Congregational, and First Presbyterian Churches,” he said.
A new elevator being installed will also finally make the church environs handicap accessible. “We also had to bring the mechanical elements into the 21stcentury,” said Lemler, “to be sure the lighting and the public address system were safe and secure.” The electricity had not been renovated since 1931.
Lemler led the way across the now paved for construction front circle and site of the World War I memorial cross, noting it would likely be next spring before a grass lawn would return to the circle. He also noted that all exterior work had to be reviewed by “the historical community.” “We are the steward of these historic buildings,” noted Lemler.
Lemler was eager to introduce the renovated Parish House that faces the front circle. “The Parish House is beautiful,” he said. Upstairs in the Parish Loft he showed how a damaging suspended ceiling put in in the 1980’s had been removed, the ceiling restored, and the leaded windows restored. “It looks like the dining room in the Harry Potter movie,” he noted.
The massive campus restoration Lemler traces back five years when work began on the Parish Hall, with roofing work, restoration and a much needed air conditioning system installed (also in the sanctuary). Throughout the summer Trinity Church holds its services there.
The Christ Church Bookstore has been significantly enlarged to two levels to become a happening place of its kind, with spiritual book club meetings – and espressos on order. “It’s the only one of its type between Washington, D.C. and Boston,” said Lemler.
Lemler has had support from a growing congregation for such substantial restorations. Attendance has grown by 25 percent since his arrival in 2007. Ten and a half million has been raised since the Church’s capital campaign, Rise Up, Restore, Rejoice! Kicked off with pledges and funds still being received. Prior to his arrival, six million dollars has been raised in 2006 for the restoration from parishioner donations and “a generous anonymous donor” said Lemler.
“With other mechanical things we want to add,” he said, and landscaping needing to be done, the fundraising continues.
The way Lemler sees it, “Christ Church Greenwich will be good for another 75-100 years. Lemler seems to be just the right person to prepare Christ Church for its next 100 years. He is a nationally known leader, educator, consultant, preacher and pastor with a life-time of leadership experience in the Episcopal Church.
Construction is expected to be completed the end of October said Lemler with All Saints Day on November 1 as the celebratory reopening day. “We’re nearly two thirds there,” he said, “and we’re on schedule.” “We’ve been blessed with ourTurnberry Planning representative Steph Slater getting the construction work done on time and within our budget,” he said.
Postscript: More construction is on the way to the Christ Church Greenwich campus. Lemler reported the lease is about to be signed with Neighbor to Neighbor allowing them to commence the building of their new facility behind the Tomes Higgins House.
