St. John's Parish - rebuilding our church for Mission and Ministry

by Bill Hamilton

This is the final year of our three year Capital Campaign Drive which has received slightly over $100,000. The priorities for these funds were 1) finish work on re-building the church's front steps, 2) to build a new Organ Console and move it into the Chancel. Monies raised were used to pay off the Diocesan Loans for these two projects, with some additional funds put into the major Parish Hall renovation Project. The 2007 balance is reserved for new ministires and programs totalling $7,500.

In May of 2005 our Parish Hall was decimated by a fire and the ground floor Sunday School and offices suffered severe water damage. The first design was over budget, so a re-design and re-bid was approved and negotiations with the Insurance Company were finalized. There were limited architectural drawings of the 1959 building, so as construction proceeded the Change Orders for unanticipated conditions kept cropping up. Construction occurred over a 10 month period which was completed in September 2006 and dedicated the building was dedicated on October 1, 2006.

A number of improvements were mandated due to building & fire codes and some improvements desired by the Building Committee to better serve our parishioners and the greater community.

The Parish Hall was enlarged to serve 200 people at a seated dinner, which includes a large, fully equipped kitchen designed to meet the needs of our parish, but also to permit large catered dinners, including wedding parties and funeral receptions.

The special Building improvements were as follows:
1. an enlarged Hall & Kitchen which could be rented for public functions;
2. a sprinkler system throughout the building (1st & Ground floors);
3. a handicapped Elevator);
4. a central Air Conditioning system
5. an improved central heating system
6. the redesigned Memorial Garden with all equipment & furnishing donated.

Regional community and church donations paid for showers in the upstairs hall to accommodate retreats, pigrimages and to serve guests in New Milford Shelter Coalition. Additional funds were contributed by churches, businesses and individuals which were applied to purchasing a Multi-Media system, featuring 4 large wall hung speakers, a floor box which connected to a Projection Cart which could show movies, internet programs, cable programs, DVD's on a large 10'x10' screen

For anyone interested in renting the Hall please call the Church Office (860-354-5583) or send your e-mail inquiry to stjohns.episcopal@charterinternet.com