What’s with the Scaffolding?
You might be wondering, “what is with all that scaffolding over at the Methodist Church?” Well I’m happy to help fill you in on our project!
About the Church and Ongoing Challenges
My name is Andrew Scott and I am the Pastor at Hope UMC. I have been the pastor at the church for over seven years now, and one of the things that we have had challenges with since before I became the pastor was water getting into the building and causing damage to the inside of the building, especially the tower and staircase where the bell is located.
Damage and Investigation
This has led to plaster falling off, damage to walls, and need for repairs at least once. We have taken time to identify the underlying issue, and discovered that the bell tower has been leaking for quite some time.
Understanding the Cause
As happens with older buildings, things wear down over time. Brick and clay tile that have been supporting the structure for almost 100 years begin to wear out. If you didn’t know, clay tile is hollow inside. What this means is that as water gets in, freezes and thaws, it creates cracks and small flowing waters within the tower itself. This gets worse as seasons wear on.
The Solution
Armed with this knowledge we’ve decided to remedy the situation by doing some extensive work on the bell tower at Hope. This remediation effort will shorten the tower, create a new cap on it, and blend the work into the aesthetic of the rest of the building.
Serving the Community
Our facility is used for many ministries to help our community; whether it’s a weekly prayer group or our weekly community meal on Wednesday’s. Knowing that we wanted to do our best to maintain our facility so that it will be safe and in good shape for all those who utilize it.
Looking Ahead
It’s a big project, but one that we are excited to have under way.
