APPENDIX E

Architectural Notes on Church Renovation*
By Barton D. (Pat) Riley, Architect YEA & TSAR
and Chuck Schwartzkopf, Editor

The Church in 1997 was a very beautiful building that was in need of a lot of work. A serious problem had to be corrected because moisture penetration through the exterior walls and roof had caused considerable damage to the interior surfaces.

Twin domes, constructed of cement over metal frames had cracked badly, were unsightly and permitted water to penetrate freely. They were replaced with copper surface domes with longevity in mind. A rain-stopping canopy over the magnificent front entrance has been installed with a rounded front profile which repeats the shape of the domes.

Probably the most striking phase of the alternations is the introduction of the all-glass doors to the entrance. The visual effect, both from the interior and the exterior, is quite dramatic. Upon entering, the entire Church is visible, including the Baptistry that occupies the area just inside the doors. The Baptistry was an element of design that evolved and grew as the renovation went forward, and with the Child’s Font cascading water into the raised, ceramic tile pool, the moving water acts to fulfill the beautiful function of Baptism in the Church.

Upon recovering and refinishing the pews, the seating was revised to form an angled pattern to provide a better view from the seats and a more effective altar location. Surfacing the raised and extended Altar platform with marble provide the richness it deserves. The same white marble is used throughout the renovation work.

Unfortunately, most of the flat sections of the ceilings had been covered with glued-on acoustical tile in 1968, an exercise that has proven to be detrimental to good acoustics in churches. These tiles were therefore removed and the damaged ceilings were plastered to match the original work. The addition of dropped pendant lights with dimmers provides a warm lighting to accent the interior’s rich, golden colors. Marble stools in the windows, protective shields over the stained glass windows, new bronze hardware, quarry tile steps, new handrails, and enlarged priest’s sacristy, and an added music room contributed greatly to the renovation.

The choir and three-manual Allen organ, have been brought down from the balcony and placed in the sanctuary of the church. A six-foot concert grand Baldwin piano also graces the sanctuary thereby incorporating the new philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to the location of these elements. This provides a much better musical exposure for the area, and everyone becomes more involved in the services. The sound system, which is one of the very best available, was developed to provide a high quality of sound throughout the church nave.

*From Building Our Legacy…Our Faith St. Philip the Apostle Project 2000