WESTBROOK After a nearly seven-year process to consolidate Westbrooks Catholic churches into a single parish St. Anthony of Padua roughly $4 million in renovations to St. Hyacinth Church on Brown Street have been completed, allowing for regular Masses to resume just in time for Christmas.

Each phase of the renovation, beginning on whats known as the mezzanine level, and culminating in a complete overhaul of the main worship level, was funded by the sale of Westbrooks St. Edmund and St. Marys churches, as well as buildings owned by St. Hyacinth. The move was part of a strategic plan formulated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to consolidate in the face of a dwindling parish base and rising costs.

The reconfigured space allows for an attendance of 612, plus 12 handicapped spaces. During times of overflow attendance, such as Christmas and Easter, there are also 50 seats in the newly renovated balcony.

In 2006, Paul Concannon was named chairman of the projects building commission, which directed the planning and coordination for each phase of the construction, which began in the fall of 2008.

We had factions who wanted to keep the church the same, and factions who wanted to change it, he said last week. It was my job to bring everyone together.

Concannon estimates that about 1,000 families belong to the new parish.

He said that although there might have been initial hard feelings between members and staff of the parishes after the consolidation began, the new combined parish has been successful.

There was a long process to decide where we would build the new church, he said. At one time, it looked like it was going to be at St. Marys.

However, Concannon said that in the end, the decision to use St. Hyacinth was based on its large size, able to accommodate the most people, and granite structure, which would have been more difficult to sell.

St. Edmunds, off Route 302, was sold in 2006, while St. Marys, on Main Street, was sold in 2009, along with its adjoining school building. The convent, school building, and Walker Field, previously owned by St. Hyacinth, were also sold in 2012. This year, the sale of the rectory at 295 Brown St. was finalized.

Original post:
A present for parishioners

Home>Products>Glulam>Commercial>Churches

Churches and other religious buildings demand large, open spaces that must be as inspiring as they are structurally sound. In many cases, glulam can be the answer to the architects prayers. These large public buildings, where aesthetics are key, can be designed with curved beams, trusses, traditional Tudor arches or complex beam, column and arch framing systems that feature the natural beauty of wood in an exposed glulam structure.

The framing of Cathedral of Christ the Light, in Oakland, California is unlike any other structure. Two large glulam and steel space frames form the outer walls. The frame consists of two intersecting circles, creating a football-like shape. The inner chords are made with (26) 10-3/4-inch curved glulam ribs, roughly 100 feet in length, and varying in depth from 30 inches at the base to 19-1/2 inches at the top. The outer chords are made of straight glulam mullions, which are roughly 103 feet long.

Because the framing is so unique and doesnt follow any of the structural types listed in the 2001 California Building Code, the City of Oakland Building Department required the engineer of record to establish a peer review committee to help develop the requirements of this framing system. This peer review committee consisted of three university professors and an industry expert. The committee developed the criteria for the structures ductility and toughness to resist seismic activity. The building is designed to withstand a 1000-year seismic event. In addition to its magnificent outer beauty, the sanctuary also features two organ lofts built with curved glulam members.

APA EWS member Western Wood Structures, Inc. of Tualatin, Oregon was the supplier and erector of all the glulam and steel components. The glulam ribs and the frames for the organ loft were manufactured by APA EWS member Alamco Wood Products, Inc. of Albert Lea, Minnesota. All other glulam members were manufactured by APA EWS member American Laminators of Drain, Oregon.

The Fall 2008 issue of Wood Design and Building featured acover article on the Cathedral of Christ the Light, written by APAs Karyn Beebe and Paul Gilham of Western Wood Structures. Photos courtesy of The Cathedral of Christ the Light.

The strength and versatility of glulam make it an ideal choice for large, open building designs where long spans are required, like St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery, Wisconsin. Designers can employ glulam to create open, airy designs and high ceilings that are popular in todays churches. Glulam is engineered to meet specific performance criteria to provide consistent performance for decades. At St. Joseph Catholic Church, glulam was used to create Tudor arches, parallel chord trusses, rafters, and other architectural framing members.

Glulam building systems are cost-effective alternatives to steel and concrete, filling the need for beautifully renovated worship and community spaces at competitive costs. Glulam beams are easy to install for timely and affordable construction. Pound for pound, glulam is stronger than steel, so glulam beams can span long distances with minimal need for intermediate supports. These facts, combined with woods warm, welcoming atmosphere, makes glulam the perfect choice for renovations and additions. Glulam timber trusses were used to create this 16,000-square-foot addition to St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Stony Plain, Alberta.

Our Lady of Loreto in Foxfield, Colorado, provides an example of how glulam can be used effectively in large churches. Using beams manufactured by APA EWS member Calvert Company, Our Lady of Loretos design emphasizes three transepts connected by a central dome over the main sanctuary. Church design is shifting to broad, fan-shaped or other geometric shaped structures featuring long clear spans and large open spaces. In large churches like Our Lady of Loreto, glulam works well because it can span long distances with a minimal number of intermediate supports. Through this design, no one will be more than 70 feet from the altar of sacrifice when seated anywhere in the church.

This synagogue in New York City is a striking example of the breathtaking beauty achievable with architectural heavy timber beams. The roof structure was created by the G.R. Plume Company, an APA EWS member located in Ferndale, Washington. The project was in planning for five years, but construction took just six months. Rather than glued laminated beams the job called for 54 Douglas-fir beams covered with a veneer of white oak and shaped into ribs that tapered from eight to two inches. The custom-manufactured ribs were crafted in Ferndale and shipped to New York for installation. We planned for 10 weeks of installation, but only took three because the beams fit perfectly, said Plume. The owner wanted a unique worship space, and the result was inspiring.

The rest is here:
Glulam in Church Construction | APA - The Engineered Wood ...

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - On Christmas Day 2012, Trinity Episcopal Church in Midtown was ripped apart by a tornado that rolled through Mobile.

But one year later, church members are gathering to celebrate Christmas Eve as the church continues to make repairs.

FOX10 spoke with several church members Tuesday who say the destroyed church hasn't broken their spirits.

They say this Christmas Eve, they're perfectly happy celebrating in their Parrish Hall.

In fact, some 140 people gathered in the churchs Parrish Hall despite its tarp-covered roof and scaffolding covering its historic brick siding.

"I think it's a time for all Christians to get together and thank god for all the blessings that he's given us throughout this year, said church member Florence Crawford.

Church officials were unable to speak on camera about Tuesdays Christmas Eve services, but said that repairs on the 170-year-old church are going well, and they hope to have reconstruction completed by this spring.

They say construction on the actual structure of the church has recently been completed, meaning the church will finally be able to stand on its own without the scaffolding.

"We're really looking forward to being back in our own church in the spring, we're hoping, said Crawford, but, it's nice to have a place that we can worship...it's not as nice as being in the church but it's still nice."

Church officials say tonight is a night to reflect on the positive progress it's made, and how far it will go.

Read more from the original source:
Trinity Church counts blessings

Church construction work
Carry The Bricks for Church Construction On Hills ,among tribal area.

By: Knr Prasad

Read the rest here:
Church construction work - Video

OREGON, Wis. -

The First Presbyterian Church of Oregon and the Peoples United Methodist Church of Oregon were planning for Christmas Eve services. But after broken water pipes caused damage at one, the churches are now working together to give their congregations the opportunity to worship and celebrate.

After water pipes at the First Presbyterian Church of Oregon froze and burst on Dec. 10, it appeared that only one of the two churches would be able to go through with those Christmas Eve plans.

It was disheartening because we were expecting everybody to be here for Christmas and to really celebrate being home together, Le Anne Clausen de Montes, pastor at the Presbyterian Church, said.

In addition to two Christmas Eve services, the Presbyterian congregation had plans to host a Christmas Cantata for the entire community.

Damage to the church is so bad that they will not be able to use the sanctuary for services until sometime after the first of the year. Construction crews will not even be able to begin work on the repairs until after Jan. 1.

The left the congregation without a place to hold their Christmas Eve service until a member of a church down the street learned of the situation.

And she said, Pastor Jason, I wanted you to know Ive invited the Presbyterians over for Christmas Eve, and I said, OKto your house, all of them, one of them, what do you mean,? and she said, Well no, theyve had a problem with their building and so Ive invited them to be with us for Christmas Eve, Jason Mahnke, pastor at the Peoples United Methodist Church of Oregon, said.

Mahnke and Associate Pastor Johanna Mahnke reached out to the First Presbyterian Church and offered to make available a time on Christmas Eve in their church for an additional service. The First Presbyterian Church service will take place at 5:30 p.m. In addition, the members of both churches are being welcomed to attend any of the services at the Methodist Church on Christmas Eve. The Methodist Church services will be held at 4, 7 and 9 p.m.

Were not about nitpicking theology details. Were about being a community, Mahnke said.

Read more:
One Oregon church opens doors to another for Christmas

Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

God comes to us in free and undeserved favor in the person of Jesus Christ who lived, died, and rose for us that we might belong to God and serve Christ in the world. Following Jesus, Presbyterians are engaged in the world and in seeking thoughtful solutions to the challenges of our time.

Presbyterians affirm that God comes to us with grace and love in the person of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for us so that we might have eternal and abundant life in him. As Christs disciples, called to ministry in his name, we seek to continue his mission of teaching the truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers. God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to be Christs faithful disciples in the world.

More than two million people call the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) their spiritual home. Worshiping in 10,000 Presbyterian congregations throughout the United States, they engage the communities in which they live and serve with Gods love.

Learn about our history, theology, and mission works that spread the Gospel throughout the USA and worldwide.

Read the original post:
Presbyterian Church - Official Site

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church is moving forward with a planned parking lot expansion that is supposed to connect to a frontage road at the property.

But construction of that road has been delayed by a legal dispute between Berkeley Hall residents and Beaufort County for six years. The latest development occurred Dec. 13, when the community's property owners board rejected a county-proposed settlement.

That leaves the church with its hands tied, parish manager Joe Ruoto said. Plans to expand and reconfigure the parking lot were designed to increase safety and parking capacity for a growing parish, he said.

Those plans are in limbo until the county and Berkeley Hall can resolve their dispute, said Monsignor Ronald Cellini, the church's pastor. For now, the church is completing the expansion's conceptual design and securing funding for the $1 million to $1.5 million project, he said.

"We're moving forward on it, and hopefully Beaufort County will work with us and just get our piece in," Ruoto said. "Then they can battle all they want with Berkeley Hall."

The frontage road would connect the church to intersections at Berkeley Hall, the Bluffton Township Fire Station and a new median crossover on U.S. 278. Previous proposals from the church to create a new traffic light, either at the median crossing or the fire station, have been denied, Ruoto said.

Because Berkeley Hall has disputed only the section of the road connecting the community's entrance to the church, Ruoto said completing the rest of the road could help alleviate traffic issues at the church, which now has only one entrance.

County officials have said they will not build the road in sections. Building the eastern portion of the frontage road wouldn't solve enough of the traffic problem to merit its own construction, county attorney Josh Gruber said.

"Getting to the (Buckwalter Parkway) light is the key," Gruber said. "We don't need to have a bunch of traffic sitting in front of a fire station when (firefighters) need to be responding to a call."

County administrator Gary Kubic has said construction will begin immediately after the legal dispute is resolved.

View original post here:
St. Gregory's moving forward with plans to expand parking lot

By GILLIAN WONG/Associated Press/December 23, 2013

BEIJING (AP) Lawyers and Christian churchgoers said they were blocked from meeting in a central Chinese county Monday to commemorate Christmas and draw attention to the detention of a pastor and his aides.

The canceled meeting at the church in Henan provinces Nanle county came during a monthlong crackdown on the church over a land dispute that pits its popular preacher against the county government.

Nanles congregation had wanted to hold a prayer meeting on Monday morning to mark Christmas. But they also sought to use the gathering to rally support for their pastor, Zhang Shaojie, and more than a dozen of his aides who have been detained by police for more than a month and denied access to their lawyers.

Rights attorney Xia Jun said he and several other lawyers who had traveled to Nanle were on their way to the prayer meeting when they were blocked by about two dozen middle-aged women and some men.

The crowd blocked the road with a ladder and harassed the lawyers, preventing them from either going to the church or heading in the direction from which they came. Xia said he believed local authorities hired the group to chase the visitors out of the county.

The most serious problem in Nanle right now is that it is practically lawless, Xia said by phone. The atmosphere is dark and there are no human rights.

A Christian woman named Shi Ping said she and several others from Shanghai who had traveled to Nanle were escorted to a police station by plainclothes officers who guarded the church entrance. Nearly 100 people blocked the churchs entrance, Shi and another churchgoer said by phone.

The case has drawn the scrutiny of rights lawyers and activists who say it exposes a county governments ability to act with impunity against a local Christian church even if it is state-sanctioned. Supporters of the church say the county government reneged on an agreement to allocate it a piece of land for the construction of a new building, leaving them without a place of worship.

Reached by phone, a man from the Nanle county government said he had not heard about the case, while calls to local police and the Communist Partys offices rang unanswered.

Original post:
Crackdown stymies China church's Christmas meeting

Dozens flock to candlelit Bolton Parish Church carol service

7:44pm Sunday 22nd December 2013 in News By Jeremy Culley, Reporter

CANDLELIT: The congregation at Sunday's carol service

DOZENS of people packed into Bolton Parish Church for their annual candlelit carol service tonight.

Mayor Cllr Colin Shaw was joined by representatives from Boltons business, education and music communities in delivering readings at the 6pm service.

Members of the congregation held candles aloft throughout, as they sang hymns and enjoyed music from the churchs choir, led by director Michael Pain.

Joining the mayor in reading lessons were Dave Bagley, chief executive of homelessness charity Urban Outreach, Leslie Parlane, headteacher of Clevelands Preparatory School and Chris Wormald, conductor of Smithills Brass Band.

Isabel Fredenburger, director of Bolton Law Society, Rod Sellars, chairman of Seddon Construction Ltd, Geoff Gwyther, chairman of Bolton U3A and the head boy and girl from Canon Slade School, James Whittle and Alexandra Mason.

Addressing a church shimmering in candlelit and boasting a 15ft-tall lavishly decorated Christmas tree, Reverend Judie Horrocks wished peace and good will to people throughout the world.

She also urged people to remember those in Bolton less fortunate at Christmas, such as those lonely, sick or homeless.

Read more from the original source:
Dozens flock to candlelit Bolton Parish Church carol service

Hallgrmskirkja by night - Reykjavk (2013)
Viewing Hallgrmskirkja, the largest church in Reykjavk, by night. This was in October 2013. In this video: A main street in downtown Reykjavk 0:09 Hallgr...

By: Jeroen Aalderink

Read more here:
Hallgrímskirkja by night - Reykjavík (2013) - Video