Sanctuary Renewal
The Truro sanctuary was completed in 1959, and underwent major renovations in the mid-1980’s. Now in the year 2024, it’s time to renew the sanctuary, reflecting our gratefulnessfor the history of this wonderful worship space, and our confidence in our vision for its future.
We invite your financial support of this vision, over and above your regular giving, to make this renewal possible in one fell swoop this summer.
July 12 Project Update:
The sanctuary renewal project has continued to move along this week. Work has continued daily on the sanctuary platform. On Wednesday, our design committee met to go over final choices of flooring and painting. At that meeting, additional ways to cut costs came to light, particularly in the area of pew cushions. These are being researched as we speak. At every step along the way, we’re being careful and prayerful to wisely steward the contributions of our congregation. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support!
Project Updates
Phase 1: Narthex renovation.
6/21/24 update: This phase is mostly complete. Work to remain in the coming weeks will be installing doors in the new (smaller) closets. Flooring, painting, and lighting will be addressed in tandem with the sanctuary.
6/14/24 update: All of the non-load-bearing walls in the narthex have now been removed (including the surprise pillar containing old water pipes).
6/7/24 update: Over the last two weeks, we have removed several non-load bearing walls, improving traffic flow and the overall openness of the space. Work will continue over the next week or so. Painting, flooring, and lighting will be addressed at the same time as the sanctuary.
Phase 2: Painting/pew refinishing
7/3/24 update: On July 3rd, we signed a contract with a company who will begin work in the sanctuary potentially by mid-July. Their work will encompass (a) repainting all of the walls, columns, trim, and ceiling in the sanctuary; (b) repainting the entire narthex; (c) repainting the sanctuary stairwells, down to (and including) the hallway at the bottom of the undercroft stairs; (d) refinishing and repainting all 88 sanctuary pews.
6/28/24 update: We have not yet signed a contract with a painting company, but we are much closer. Nancy Gordon is having daily conversations with two different companies, to ensure that the proposal we end up accepting is indeed the very best one, and ensures the best stewardship of our financial resources.
6/21/24 update: Final decisions will be made on paint colors and the contractor the week of June 24.
6/7/24 update: We anticipate signing a contract with a painting company in the next several days. We are trying out various paint samples throughout the room, in different types of lighting.
Phase 3: Flooring
7/3/24 update: Work has continued on the platform stage all week. We will make final decisions on the flooring for the rest of the sanctuary next week.
6/28/24 update: Work has begun on the platform stage, removing the red carpet, and laying new wood down that will be stained in future weeks. We have a near-final choice of LVT flooring for the narthex and under the pews, and for carpet in the aisles.
6/21/24 update: We are meeting with another flooring contractor today, June 21. Final decisions will be made on flooring and the contractor the week of June 24.
6/7/24 update: We anticipate signing a contract with a flooring company in the next two weeks.
Phase 4: Lighting
7/3/24 update: We are sorting through three different proposals from three lighting companies.
6/28/24 update: We met with an electrician on Thursday, June 27, to ensure that the lighting proposals will not require any further work on Truro’s electrical system. The electrician confirmed this. Now with this confirmation, we expect to receive final lighting quotes over the next week.
6/21/24 update: An electrical contractor will visit Truro the week of June 24 to verify that our electrical system can support the proposed lighting redesign by a contractor with whom we’re in conversations.
6/7/24 update: We have received one comprehensive quote for the lighting project. Two more are expected to come in the next few days. The lighting will be the single greatest cost of this renewal project.
Phase 5: Pew Cushions
6/21/24 update: A final decision on the fabric color of new pew cushions will likely be made the week of June 24, once painting and flooring colors are finalized.
6/7/24 update: We will likely place an order for new pew cushions in the next two weeks. The production time is about 90 days.
Congregational meetings + Q&A
June 12th update from Jamie Brown, summarizing the meeting that was held on June 11
On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Jamie Brown and Nancy Gordon shared some updates and took questions about this project.
Photos:
Click to enlarge
To make a financial contribution towards this vision, click here:
Questions? Email Daria Brown, Director of Operations, at
On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Jamie Brown and Nancy Gordon shared some updates and took questions about this project.
In the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue to give updates on the various elements of this project. Save the date of Tuesday, June 11 for our next presentation and Q&A in the sanctuary after our community night. We'll begin at 7:00pm.
Flooring:
We will be replacing all flooring in the sanctuary, stairwells, balcony, and platform
Pews:
We will be repainting, refinishing, and cushioning all of the pews
Paint:
We will be repainting all of the walls and ceiling of the sanctuary and narthex
Lighting:
We will removing all existing lighting and their controls, and replacing them with a more modern lighting system
Narthex (updated May 23, 2024):
On Tuesday, we'll begin removing a few non-load-bearing walls, in order to provide a small amount of increased space for people to move and gather. This drawing gives you an idea of the project. To the right is the entrance into the narthex from the brick ramp. To the left, is the exit to the glass walkway. The bottom doors are the exit to the brick patio. The top doors take you down the center aisle.
