2022-2023 Church Restoration Project ~ From Start to Finish! - First Congregational Church of Canandaigua, UCC

March 12, 2023
A Restoration Celebration!

Our service celebrated all the people who brought this huge project to a blessedly smooth and successful completion.

March 12, 2023 ~ Restoration Celebration!
Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen welcomes everyone to the special celebration
Rev.Ryan Henderson brings greetings from the New York Conference of UCC
An anthem from the choir, and a peek at the expertise of our Live Streamers.
Choir Director Edie Rice shares her talent in leading our fine choir.
A 4-piece horn section added to the celebration.
Carla DeMeco shares the long timeline - since 1799 - of FCC's place in Canandaigua's history.
Nancy Parsons recognizes and thanks the New York Landmarks Conservancy for their major role in the restoration project.
Tarry Shipley explains the origins of the Historic Building Preservation Fund in 2003 and its important role in the unexpected ceiling repairs necessary in 2023.
What better way to thank Mike and Nancy Parsons for their tireless work to shepherd the project? Framed pieces of the original plaster that fell in February 2022!
The Parsons also received beautifully framed photos of the completed sanctuary.
All trustees were thanked and received appreciation gifts for their important role in the year-long project. Each trustee had a specific portion they were responsible for.
Mike Parsons recognizes and thanks each contractor who played a critical role in the seamless timeline of work.
The owners of Josephine's Cleaners of Canandaigua and the employees who worked to thoroughly clean the sanctuary post-project are thanked for their efforts.
The Restored and Repaired Sanctuary Stands Ready to Serve for Another 210 Years!

Home at Last!
Return to the Sanctuary Sunday, January 29, 2023

A great sense of celebration, as the FCC congregation returns to the newly restored sanctuary for the first time in 9 months.

Sanctuary Jan 2023
Sanctuary Jan 2023
Sanctuary Jan 2023
Sanctuary Jan 2023
Sanctuary Jan 2023
Trustees Jan 29, 2023
Sunday, January 29, 2023 ~ First Service in Newly Restored Sanctuary
Sun Jan 29, 2023 ~ Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen welcomes the congregation back to the Sanctuary
Nancy & Mike Parsons, the driving force behind the many who came together to make this project happen.
Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Sun Jan 29, 2023
Celebrating the long-awaited return to the Sanctuary - 1/29/2023
Celebrating the long-awaited return to the Sanctuary - 1/29/2023

Countdown to Reopening! Scaffolding Comes Down, Deep Cleaning Starts

Chandeliers are cleaned and relamped with high efficiency LED bulbs, decorative organ pipes returned to their place, scaffolding comes down.

Prior to removal of the scaffolding, Sue Hawkes carefully cleans the chandeliers after relamping each with energy efficient LED bulbs.
Parsons Organ Builders re-installed the facade organ pipes prior to the removal of the sanctuary scaffolding. One more step to reopening!

First Accent Stripes & Landmark Conservancy

Swiatek Studios begins applying the first accent stripes and the New York Landmark Conservancy is part of our project!

Window Restoration Work Continues

While the focus is on the plaster work in the sanctuary, the window restoration moves on steadily at Talis Restoration Studios. Today’s topic: Replacement Glass Configuration

Nancy, Tarry, Rev. Dawn and Laurie at Talis Historic Restoration's studios.
Rev Dawn and Tarry consider the configuration of replacement and original colored glass in the restored frames.
Learning all about the options available for replacing glass in the restored frames.
Laurie tries her hand at a few sample patterns.

Wrapping Up the Ceiling Plaster Work

On 9/8/2022, intrepid Trustees once again scaled the scaffolding for an update from Peter Poulin

A Few More Photos of the Artist at Work

Next Steps in Plasterwork

Peter Poulin uses a straight edge to demonstrate how he will apply plaster over the wide expanses of ceiling areas where the original 1812 ceiling meets the 1842 extension.
This mesh will secure the new plaster to the lathe above it.
An artistic and seldom seen view up and out of the skylight above the pulpit and sounding board.

Get Up Close with the Plaster Repairs ~ Photos by Peter Poulin

Example of previous ceiling color under layers of old plaster
Example of previous ceiling color under layers of old plaster

A Close-up View of the Sanctuary Scaffolding Prepwork

Parsons Pipe Organ Builders On-site to Secure Organ from Damage

Each of the decorative pipes were carefully removed and numbered. They were then placed on top of the padded pew boxes and were then covered to protect them from any accidental falls or drips from the scaffolding above. Quite an accomplishment!