Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General Questions
Q) What doe the Building Up, Reaching Out Together Capital Campaign include?
A) Over fifty years ago, a small group of men and women stepped out in faith to establish St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The St. Michael’s family now exercises good stewardship of our resources – caring for this legacy, responding to current needs, and planning for the future. Long-delayed maintenance of our facilities and the need for physical improvements present an opportunity to build upon the faithful act that brought the dream of St. Michael’s into being. Our capital campaign is essential to our enduring ministry, as well as our ability to welcome and provide true hospitality for all.
Building up, we seek to enrich our worship of the one God in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Reaching out, we seek to welcome all in the name of Christ, honoring especially those in our midst who face physical challenges. Together, we seek to care for the property entrusted to us by God, tending to long neglected maintenance and improving the existing physical plant.
BUILDING UP, ENRICHING OUR WORSHIP
- Refreshing the sanctuary interior
- Enlarging the balcony
- Improved lighting and sound system
- New furnishings for sanctuary
- New Pipe Organ
- New baptismal font
- Enhanced wall behind altar that could one day be adorned with a mural or fresco
REACHING OUT, WELCOMING ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
- Chancel renovations, with handicap access to altar
- Enlarged narthex with improved entrance, glass walls, and gathering space
- Handicap accessible connector building between Sanctuary and Commons
- Tower with elevator access to three levels
- New furnishings for narthex
TOGETHER, CARING FOR THE PROPERTY ENTRUSTED TO US BY GOD
- New HVAC and mechanical systems
- Improved storage
- Improved sacristy area for altar guild
- Clerestory/Stained glass windows
- Refurbishment of existing windows
- Refurbishment of exterior
- An outdoor labyrinth plaza and walkways
- Fire alarm system
- Spire to top the tower
Q) Is any renovation of the sanctuary interior comtemplated as part of the project (cleaning, replacing, pointing, refinishing, painting, and the like)?
A) Yes, interior renovation is included in the project.
Q) Will there be a sufficient number of electrical outlets for various needs, including plug-ins for coffee pots, lighting as needed, etc., in the expanded narthex?
A)
A complete reworking of the lighting, sound, electrical and other infrastructure elements are part of the project.
Q) Will the handicap access to St. Michael’s be improved?
A) One of the primary goals of this renovation is to make St. Michael’s fully accessible to persons of limited mobility. Our current access to Dundas-Hatcher via our existing elevator will remain undisturbed. Additionally, our new elevator will allow handicap access from the upper (McCrae Road) parking lot to both the church and the parish hall. There will no longer be a step up to the altar rail, so persons in wheelchairs or who otherwise have difficulty navigating steps may partake of the Eucharist with other parishioners.
Q) Are our current water/drainage problems (Youth room, chapel roof) going to be addressed?
A) Yes, the design team is factoring these concerns into the renovation plan.
Q) Are furnishings for the narthex included?
A) Yes. Furnishings are included in the project.
Q) Will the church building be enlarged?
A) The church building will be enlarged to the degree that we will increase the size of the narthex and by doing so will pick up additional interior (nave) space beneath the extended balcony.
Financial Questions
Q) Would it make better economic sense, especially when taking the long view, to start over by building an entirely new structure rather than retro-fitting our old one?
A) This question was considered during the conceptual phase, and was found to be not particularly economically feasible. We could spend considerably more and have less to show for it.
Q) I have heard quotes ranging from 1.8 to over 5 million dollars for this project. What is the actual total cost?
A) A variety of estimates have been made during the conceptual phase. Some of these estimates were “hard numbers” based on received proposals (e.g., the pipe organ), whereas others were projections and still others were “worst case” scenarios. As of February 2008, the estimated full project cost is approximately 3.2 million dollars; however, design drawings and contractor bids have not been finalized so the figure remains tentative. The total cost will be “fine tuned” once all cost factors are assembled.
Q) Since the estimated project cost appears to exceed capital campaign fundraising to date, is the project scope going to be reduced?
A) As of February 2008, the full renovation is being pursued, with no reduction in scope. In January 2008, the vestry approved a five year Capital Campaign Project Plan that includes additional fundraising activities.
Construction Questions
Q) When will actual construction begin?
A) Construction is anticipated to begin in September or October 2008
Q) Where will we worship while construction is taking place?
A) We will need to determine how best to utilize our facility for worship. We imagine that we will experience most of our exile in Dundas-Hatcher. This will prompt us to really ask how our current use of Dundas-Hatcher will be expected to occur elsewhere. This will be a very exciting time during the history of our parish. We will likely face the necessity of having three Sunday morning services while in Dundas-Hatcher, which will allow for great energy and vision in who we are as a worshiping community.
Q) How long will we be unable to use the sanctuary?
A) We should anticipate an “exile to the wilderness’ of 40 days and 40 nights, which translates in 21st century calendars to somewhere between six and nine months.
Q) What about Sunday School, Adult Forum, meetings, choir rehearsal, youth, guilds, etc?
A) All of our normal church program and social activities will continue during construction. We will all just need to be ready to adapt – we may need to be flexible regarding times and locations during the construction phase.
Q) Can I park in the same place? How can I get into the Parish Hall? Etc.
A) As with any construction project, there will most certainly be potential disruptions to the normal way of doing things. We will do our best to provide notices and instructions via all our normal means of communication (bulletins, newsletter, e-mail, signs, announcements, etc.)
Q) What about the plantings and the Memorial Garden?
A) The Memorial Garden will remain in its current location, and could possibly become slightly larger. Because of the nature of building construction, some plantings may need to be excavated and relocated temporarily to avoid damage from the set-up of scaffolding or similar features.
Q) When will it be all finished?
A) Depending on the construction start date, and factors such as weather, we should be in the renovated space in late summer or autumn 2009. The space must be “stabilized” (heat and air conditioning) before the organ can be installed and voiced. It is certainly our hope to celebrate Christmas Eve 2009 with all the parts in place.
The Really BIG Question
Q) What can WE (or I) do to support the capital campaign?
A)
The Capital Campaign offers an exciting opportunity for EVERY PARISHIONER to participate in the growth and future of St. Michael’s. Here are just a few ways that YOU can participate:
- Volunteer! The pending construction and temporary relocation to Dundas-Hatcher Hall presents several logistical challenges. We will need “fresh blood” for our cadres of ushers, lay eucharistic ministers, acolytes, altar guild, greeters, tellers, and so forth. Please Volunteer!
- Offer a Strong Back! We should anticipate opportunities to serve that will come up as the schedule is finalized – moving items and materials out of the church prior to turning it over to the contractor; excavating and relocating plantings; helping set up/tear down Dundas-Hatcher for worship services, etc.
- Be Creative! This renovation offers us a wide variety of opportunity for creativity. Here’s just one example: we are going to need new kneelers and seat cushions in the renovated space. We are going to need volunteers to participate in making that a reality.
- Spread the News! Our renovation is just one additional factor in the excitement of St. Michael’s. Talk about it, tell your friends, invite folks to join our parish family.
- Offer Financial Support! All parishioners are asked to pledge financial support to the campaign. Pledges can be increased at any time. Or, perhaps you could organize a fund-raising activity to support the project. There should be no limitations on our resourcefulness.