By ROBYN BRISTOW
Week 113 - and counting.
But the end may finally be in sight for restoration work on Glenmark’s St Paul’s Anglican Church.
It’s hoped to welcome worshippers and visitors into the historic church by the middle of the year.
Restoration was supposed to take a year, but around every corner some other detail would emerge, and with it additional costs.
Friends of Glenmark Church, which has been united in restoring the church to its former glory, is still working hard fundraising to meet a bill which has blown out to around $2.5 million.
Through all the trials and tribulations, prime project motivator Isobel Whyte, the Bishops warden on the Vestry, and a member of the Friends of the Glenmark Church, has remained stoic - the historic church would reopen, and it will be as authentic as it was when built, and consecrated in 1907.
But the kitty is pretty bare, and some items, which are not compliance issues, have been put on hold in-the-meantime.
‘‘To ensure we open in the first part of 2023 we have had to cut the cloth.
‘‘Inside plastering and painting has been kept for a later date, except for the very high bits which were done while the extra high scaffolding was up — the altar and west window.
‘‘We will be fundraising for a long time,’’ Mrs Whyte says.
To help replenish the coffers a fundraising dinner and auction is planned at the Omihi Hall on Friday, May 13. Kendra Cocksedge, the most capped Black Fern of all time, will speak at the event, along with Russell Pitt, of RPC Construction, who will talk about bringing St Paul’s back to life.
Tickets will go on sale in April.
The project was initially estimated to cost $1.8 million, but then Covid, inflation and a shortage of materials all combined to add to the cost, already rising due to the ‘extras’ unearthed along the restoration journey.
Fundraising efforts, grants, two very generous donations from benefactors, and other private donations have kept the project moving.
Morale was given a huge boost when the Kate Valley Landfill Community Trust covered the cost of insurance, and the cost of Timaru-based South Island Organ Company overhauling the 1906 Norman and Beard organ, from England.
Mrs Whyte says through it all the RPC team has remained really enthusiastic.
‘‘They love what they are doing and seeing it (the church) come back to life.’’
Two of the team — Nigel and Dave — spent a week cleaning down beams, and oiling dry patches, while the scaffolding was still inside the church.
Meanwhile a small team of dedicated volunteers who stripped the church bare, are now bringing it all back home.
The organ and stained glass windows will be the last two features to be installed.
Restoration follows the Canterbury 2010 earthquake which shook the church to its foundations. During the intervening years, while restoration efforts were being considered, burglars, vandals, weather, rats, and pigeons all took their toll.
But undeterred its dedicated team of loyal supporters never gave up.
It is week 113 — action week.
Trenches are being dug by electricians for the main re-connection, the disabled footpath is under way, Friends’ members, Dave and Chris, are doing a jig-saw re-assembling the Dado's (wooden side panels) inside the church, and the lights have been re-hung.
