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Convent Chapel at the Oratory
Looking at the convent’s newly renovated chapel now, it is hard to believe that only a few months ago this former chapel had mint-green walls, a grungy floor where the shabby tiles had been ripped out, and a water-damaged acoustic ceiling that suffered from years of leakage.
Although broken windows and accumulated debris were remedied early on when the Institute took over the care of St. Francis de Sales, it was not until this Spring that work began to return this room to its former use: as a chapel suitable for the liturgy.
In a coordinated effort, individuals of various trades – electrical, drywall, plumbing, carpentry, painting, seamstress, as well as general help, worked as a team to restore the chapel from top to bottom. The old tiles from the dropped ceiling were dismantled to expose the original ceiling above. The plumbing leak which caused the water damage was repaired. New wiring was installed to accommodate the new light fixtures. The floor was cleaned and sanded, and any wall crack repair issues addressed.
Once the bulk of the ceiling work was completed, the sanding, priming and painting of the ceilings and walls visually transformed the room. Over the mint-green paint of a bygone era, the walls of the chapel were restored to an eggshell white, as a suitable backdrop for the altar(s) soon to occupy the room. Even the radiator was transformed from the drab gray to the same whiteness.
Crown molding was added to the room to give it a classical detail in keeping with the style of rooms elsewhere in the convent. The window sashes were sanded and stained, and the windows were re-glazed. The original pine floor of the chapel was sanded, restored, and finished with coats of polyurethane to protect it for the frequent use this room will surely receive in the years to come.
Finally, new chandeliers, similar in style to those in the dining room of the convent were installed, and new draperies and shades added to attenuate the sunlight streaming into the gleaming room. The finishing touches ensured that the chapel is not only functional but elegant for its intended use, in spite of the fact that it is not generally visible to the public.
All told, it took nearly four weeks, with at least two persons on any given work day, to renovate the chapel. In addition, young adult volunteers came in on Saturdays to scrape and clean and remove construction debris.
Perhaps the most remarkable fact is that all the trade expertise it took to renovate this important room were donated by volunteers, who came in during their spare time, lunch hours, and time off their other duties in order to bring a beautiful tradition back to the convent at St. Francis de Sales. We are deeply grateful for the contributions that these individuals gave from the generosity of their hearts.
The photo series below shows the transformation of the chapel as the renovation progressed. (Photo Credits: Mr. Phil Roussin)
2012-08-11 21:23:05
Source: http://traditionfortomorrow.com/blog/article/convent-chapel-at-the-oratory-2/
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