It’s the middle of Holy Week and churches are preparing for some of their largest crowds. The services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday keep many churches busier than they are any other time of the year. More people at services means a concern about seating, and concerns about seating force churches to reevaluate their current building plans.
While the majority of people in a congregation only think about a church and its space on Sunday, it is the job of the Building Committee to think about the the space year round. Although Building Committees focus their concern on the heating and air conditioning systems, roofing, and outside structure, other committees find themselves dealing with the addition or restoration of more traditional aspects of the church.
Church steeple design, church pews, and other church furniture are important parts of any place of worship. And though the building concerns of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and roofing can be treated the same as they are in any other non-church building, it takes a special company to help congregations solve their church steeple design and church pew restoration and replacement problems.
Finding Ways to Increase Sanctuary Seating While Maintaining the Original Designs
While traditional businesses and corporate offices can often purchase new furniture without concern for a previous design or a historical model, churches face a unique set of circumstances when they prepare to expand seating and other areas. Churches have the unique task of attempting to replicate the current furniture, some of which may be 50 or more than 100 years old.
Fine woodworking and other skills can, however, make any church restoration or expansion project possible. Although many Americans think of Catholic cathedrals as having the most ornate furnishings, other churches also have a rich and detailed design. Long wooden pews, for example, are a staple of many churches. The first pews in churches were introduced as early as the 13th century. Initially they were removable stone benches were placed against church walls. Current use, obviously, are the freestanding permanent wooden pews that are in most sanctuaries throughout the country.
Key to the successful process of expansion of any church is the ability to find crafts people who are willing to pay attention to detail. The most trained employees take special care of the current valuable furnishings while at the same time trying to replicate historic details in new pieces of furniture. When you realize that in any parish or community the local church is often the oldest building, you understand the importance of attention to detail. In addition to being the oldest, many churches are also the largest structures in a small community. Local community members have a strong desire keep their churches not only as a place of worship, but also an historic landmark.
Church Steeple Design and Restoration Also Focuses on Attention to Detail
Drive into any small community and you will likely notice the church steeples. In fact, in small towns that have no buildings taller than two stories, church steeples make up the only “skyline” a small community has. A quick scan of communities can, for instance, allow a simple count of how many churches are in that town.
As churches age, however, the need for steeple cleaning and restoration becomes important. Companies that pay special attention to the steeple understand the need for close examination of the current steeple before any cleaning, repairing, and painting can occur. Since most older steeples are made from wood, the materials can age and deteriorate. These older structures must be carefully restored in a way that will mirror the original design as well recreate a steeple that will withstand future weather conditions.
Even the cleaning process of a detailed church steeple design is important. Many communities offer a picture of a church steeple as a landmark of their community. Peeling, cracking, and rotting steeples though do not make for good images. Finding a company with experience in working with aging wooden structures is key to saving and restoring a steeple.
Here is the church, Here is the steeple, Open the doors, And see all the people. Even the old children’s rhyme and hand motions focus on the importance of a church’s steeple and its image.
