St Christopher's Episcopal Church

Easel Questions

FAQs

On November 23, 2009, Kevin Shaw presented the results of the feasibility study to the Vestry.  As a result of that presentation, the vestry voted unanimously to move forward with the project.  Fr. Michael Hanley explained that despite his leaving there was no Canon Law that states the project cannot continue.  The following timeline explains the process that will be followed until a vote of the parish in May 2010.

Why are we doing this?

• In the book, Prayer Book Renewal, published in 1978 William Pregnall states: “The Book of Common Prayer demands a free-standing altar table; a visible font; a credence table in the congregation; and liturgical space usable for a variety of movements, whether passing the peace, having a wedding, or receiving communion…(to use traditional architecture)… is to miss much of the spirit of freedom and congregational participation implied in the new rites.”

• The parish voted several years ago that we needed to renovate the space to deal with maintenance issues, accessibility and safety.

•  “The altar against the ‘north’ wall forces the celebrant to turn his back on the people. It becomes only an altar and not a table in that position. Whereas we have too long forgotten the sacrificial aspect while sentimentalizing the family meal aspect of the Eucharist, we can no longer fail to recognize that we are involved in both sacrifice and meal. The last supper makes no sense without the cross of Calvary. But the cross of Calvary is an isolated moment, detached from my existence without the responsive act of the Lord’s Supper to the command, ‘do this in remembrance of me.” The altar table must be free- standing, preferably in the midst of the people, not spatially or psychologically removed by distance, rood screen, or altar rails.”

Milestones:

December 13:  Parish wide meeting for discussion of the results of the feasibility study. 

January 3:  Clarifying questions around the feasibility study submitted to Kevin Shaw.  Questions may be left in Barb Herrmann’s mail box, put in the box in the Narthex or emailed to barbherrmann@comcast.net.

January 6:  Begin to look for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.  Posted on back wall in the Narthex 

All current information in Library.  Updates will begin to be announced in the Traveler, Christogram, and on the Web Site.

January 10:  Kevin’s responses to the clarifying issues around the feasibility study submitted to the renovation committee.  Answers made available to the congregation by the end of January.

March/April: Focus groups to explain any lingering questions and talk about moving forward.  Why so late?  In the meantime the renovation committee and liturgical group will be working at tightening up cost estimates and getting answers to outstanding questions.

May 3:  All parish meeting and vote on moving forward with the project.  Again this does not mean it will happen it just means we should move forward depending on approval from the Diocese and our ability to raise the funds. 

Renovation Feasibility Report Executive Summary

Renovation Feasibilty Full Report

Demographic Summary Report

St. Christopher's Data Maps