COVID-19 Time at St. Philip's

“It’s an ill wind that blows no good.” That proverb certainly applied to the parish of St. Philip’s, Dunbar, during the COVID-19 shutdown. Indeed, the parish was able to complete a number of projects where the absence of a worshipping congregation was a distinct benefit.

Last summer and fall, the parish had embarked on a capital fundraising campaign – “Under Our Roof and Beyond Our Walls”  - for the purpose of financing program and infrastructure projects, including the much-needed replacement of roofs on the church, the church hall and the rectory. The process of assembling a project management team, preparation of roof specifications, issuing and evaluation of tenders and selecting of a roofing contractor all took place in the fall.

A decision was made to coax the existing roofs through another winter, with the commencement of roof replacement construction scheduled for Easter Monday. During Lent, the project management team worked with the contractor to ensure the safety and minimal disruption to building users, including worshippers, pre-schools and renters.

While the arrival of the COVID-19 restrictions delayed the physical start of the project, a construction “window” was cleared during the second half of May and the buildings are now enhanced with new roofs. The church and the hall have been covered with so-called “EcoRoof” rubber shingles made of recycled tires which will extend the expected life of those roofs by up to about 60 years, compared with the 20-year average life of the more economic asphalt shingles used on the rectory. For more information please visit the Penfold's Roofing website linked here.

Meanwhile, the absence of worshippers in the church has allowed two other projects to proceed. The existing pews are being removed and rebuilt as attractive stackable pews which will increase the flexibility of the space they previously occupied. These refurbished pews also provide the further benefit of facilitating socially distanced worship.

An empty church also afforded the opportunity to access space under the church floor and install a hearing loop around the perimeter to provide an antenna that radiates the magnetic signal of the sound system to those persons in the congregation with hearing aids equipped to receive such signals.

In recognition of the hearing loop, in the virtual service on Pentecost Sunday, the socially-distanced choir presented a two-verse anthem at the end of the service acknowledging this welcome addition. The anthem commenced as follows:

“I can hear clearly now the LOOP is here

I can hear all the words as clear as day

Gone are the fuzzy sounds that hit my ears

It’s gonna be a Clear Clear hearing day”

Not to be outdone, the parish verger, Pat Brandon, has used the break to undertake a number of maintenance tasks, including painting and the renovation of the three washrooms in the church hall.

For the next 60 years, worshippers at St. Philip’s can look forward to staying dry and hearing every word of a service with undiminished clarity.

("Out of respect for readers who may be allergic to pundemic allusions, all attempts at wet or dry humour have been scrupulously self-isolated from the above article.")

IMAGES

• Rev. Stuart Hallam, Rector of St. Philip's poses with the Penfold's Roofing crew on June 3, 2020
• Rev. Stuart Hallam and Director of Music/Organist, Michael Murray stand on either side of the Penfold's sign
• A full view of the church building and a section of the hall before the work began    Photo Conrad Guelke
  
• A view of the connecting hall that contains the gymnasium before the rubber tile was applied
• That same section with the new roof
• Penfold's roofer working on a section over the narthex
• Penfold's roofer working on a section outside the nave
• Preparing the table for the June 3 appreciation party with pizza and beer 
  
• Rev. Hallam offers a prayer of blessing
• Members of the parish/committee members/parish officers and roofers maintaining social distance on June 3 during the blessing
  
• Pizza and beer are served
• Enjoying a slice and a Corona
  

Photos by Randy Murray except where noted.