The Capital Appeal campaign has raised over $600,000 in pledge commitments as of January 2008 from its November 2007 start. Of the projects described below, the Columbarium has been beautifully installed in the Chapel, and was completed under budget! The Capital Appeal Committee works closely with the Building Committee on finalizing plans for the renovation of the Parish House and the Rectory.
Capital Appeal Projects
We had three specific goals in mind: 1) to build a columbarium, 2) to revitalize the rectory, and 3) to renovate the parish house.
A Columbarium Ministry has been under the careful consideration of the Vestry and the Columbarium Committee for more than a year. The committee’s recommendation to the Vestry, supported by a design by Brett Donham, architect and parishioner, was to build the columbarium in the Chapel arch opposite the hanging cross. The arch is filled with a framework containing niches. At the same time, the chapel space has been reconfigured to support the dual functions of worship and columbarium space, and later, the entryway will be re-conceived to reflect the spirit of the Chapel. A loan from the endowment was approved by the Vestry, to be repaid from the proceeds of the Capital Appeal. This has allowed the work in the chapel to be completed during the summer of 2007.
The impact on the Rectory of many years of deferred maintenance has been carefully evaluated. Improvements needed include bringing all systems up to the building code, improving energy efficiency, repainting walls, ceilings and trim, refinishing floors, and updating the kitchen and baths.
The Parish House renovations are still under consideration. Discussions at the 2007 Annual Meeting, and by Vestry, clergy, staff, and lay leaders who use the spaces, have given us this list of desired improvements, including:
- Additional meeting space
- Reconfigured office and restroom space
- Reconfigured vesting room for clergy, choir and acolytes
- Safe, usable storage space
- Enhanced middle room and choir room
- Updated kitchen
- Refurbished Sunday School and Pre-School areas
- Planned spaces for activities
- Removal of collections of unused “stuff”
Development of Feasibility Study for Capital Appeal
St. Paul’s engaged Kairos and Associates to conduct a study during April-July 2007 to determine parish willingness to engage in the new ministry and renovations as well as its ability to fund it. The consultant held confidential interviews with 19 people and conducted three Focus Groups on May 20-23, 2007. A total of 18 people participated in the Focus Groups. A specific format was followed for each interview and Focus Group to gather quantifiable and comparable data in the form of advice, perceptions, opinions and other pertinent information. The entire parish was invited to participate in the Feasibility Study process by completing a 35-question Survey that was distributed before worship on the weekend of June 3. A total of 62 surveys were completed and tabulated.
The complete findings, including results of the interviews, focus groups, and survey, and its recommendations to move forward can be found in the Feasibility Study dated July 8, 2007.
The Feasibility Study recommended a capital appeal goal of $500,000. The Building Committee, after much cutting, reduced the minimum amount needed for the columbarium, rectory, and parish house from $1.6 million to $800,000. The Vestry accepted the $800,000 as the Capital Appeal goal.
The Capital Appeal received commitments for over $600,000, 20% more than the consultant thought possible. In February, 2008 the Vestry directed the Building Committee to expand the range of options and funding mechanisms to investigate so the final result will best meet the long term needs of the parish.
