St. Aidan's Episcopal Church Sanctuary Expansion

Sanctuary Expansion: Proposal

A PROPOSAL FOR
ST. AIDAN’S WORSHIP SPACE
IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Respectfully submitted by the St. Aidan’s Building Committee
Approved for Discussion & Reaction by the St. Aidan’s Vestry

Pursuing our Mission

The Mission Statement of St. Aidan’s Church
“St. Aidan's seeks to be the welcoming heart, hands and voice of Christ in Malibu."

INTRODUCTION

As St. Aidan’s moves into the 21st Century, we are called to constantly re-examine our community life in the light of our Mission Statement. Are we fulfilling it to the best of our abilities? Can we do more? How can we better live into the spirit of that simple, yet compelling message?

In this spirit, the St. Aidan’s Building Committee was commissioned by the Vestry to explore ideas for expanding our lovely sanctuary to better realize that mission, to accommodate the anticipated growth of our community, and to make the worship experience at St. Aidans as welcoming and inclusive as it can possibly be for newcomers and long-time parishioners alike. The Building Committee has fulfilled its mission to the best of its ability, and as we move forward into the discernment process on this proposal, we ask that each and every one of you participate in the same spirit – bringing your love for this parish and this community to bear on the question of its shape and purpose in the years to come.

WHY HAVE NEW PLANS BEEN POSTED?

Following the spring 2009 House Meetings, the Building Committee took your concerns back to our architect, Cory Buckner, and asked her to draw two alternate plans that addressed your desires. Specifically, we asked that the stained glass windows and Christus Rex maintain their places of prominence, that the sacristy expansion be further investigated, and that a central aisle be maintained. The church’s musicians also wanted a more effective choir placement, and the Healing Prayer group expressed a desire for a side chapel for their ministry. Both of the new plans address these issues.

Cory Buckner and Nick Roberts presented the two new plans, labeled D and E, to the Parish on Sunday, September 13. The plans are currently on display here on the Web site and in the Parish Hall. The Vestry and Building Committee want all members of St. Aidan’s Parish to get acquainted with these plans and to express their opinions about the plans.

The Comment form is available by the plans in the Parish Hall and as a download from this Web site. There will be a Building Committee Member available every Sunday in October to explain the plans and answer your questions in the Parish Hall after the 10 AM service. Please return a completed comment form to the Building Committee member, the Rector, or the church office by early November.

Downloadable Feedback Form

BACKGROUND

Why is St. Aidan’s considering embarking on expanding our sanctuary now?

The last four Vestries of St. Aidan’s have believed that the parish is growing and that a larger, enhanced, and more welcoming sanctuary is necessary. About four years ago the Church received, from a parishioner, an anonymous gift of $250,000 to begin the process of realizing a sanctuary expansion project. In June of 2007, the Vestry began to discuss ways to seat more members in our main service with the Dean of our Deanery, the Rev. Jim Newman, of St. Bede’s in Mar Vista, whose church had undertaken a successful expansion project. In fall of 2007, the Vestry appointed a Building Committee, and in December, after meeting with two appropriate architectural firms, the committee selected Cory Buckner, Architect, to design our project. The plan we are presenting is an enlarged version of one of her three original plans. The Vestry asked that she accomplish the following goals in her plan:

1. Expand the sanctuary by 30 to 40 seats so that the congregation can grow by as many as ten families, the church can accommodate larger weddings, memorial services (including a casket) , and festive services such as baptisms.

2. Move the choir so that it feels part of the congregation.

3. Explore the possibility of changing seating so that the congregation is gathered around the altar as a family.

4. Provide an outside space for prayer and a memorial garden which will be planned and designed if interest during the discernment process warrants this project.

5. Provide excellent access to and seating in the church for those either semi- ambulant or in wheelchairs.

6. Provide speech reinforcement and assisted listening for the hearing impaired.

7. Improve the lighting fixtures with a design in keeping with the original architect A. Quincy Jones’s intent.

8. Improve storage and work space in the sacristy or enlarge it.

SOME QUESTIONS ADDRESSED

Who is the architect of the new plan, and how was she selected?

Cory Buckner is a practicing architect in the Los Angeles area. She has a degree in Fine Arts from Chouinard Art Institute and a Masters’ degree in Architecture from UCLA. She has also studied landscape architecture at UCLA. She was awarded the 2002 Los Angeles Preservation Award, "For the inspiring effort to protect and restore the original Mutual Housing Association homes in Crestwood Hills, preserving important examples of Southern California Modernism, and enhancing the sense of community in a unique neighborhood." She is the author of A. Quincy Jones, published by Phaidon Press and was a finalist for the 2003 Rome Prize. Cory’s husband, Nick Roberts, AIA, is also working on the project and brings extensive experience working with churches to the project.
The Building Committee and the Vestry selected Cory Buckner and Nick Roberts because of their backgrounds, their solid research into the history of A. Quincy Jones’s plans for St. Aidan’s Church, their excellent references, and their vision of what we can do to expand and preserve St. Aidan’s Church.

Why does the Church need these new facilities? Aren’t the current ones sufficient?

Our present chapel was intended to be the School Chapel for a parish school, and a large “church in the round” was planned for the site of the present Rectory. For many years, the chapel was half-full. Almost every Sunday now, the chapel is “full,” and attendance has grown by about 3 persons on average per year at 10 am and has doubled at 8 am in 2007 - 2008. Elderly or handicapped members of the church have difficulty accessing the church and its services. We have no assistance available for members who struggle with hearing, and on dark days, many have trouble reading the service materials. Since St. Aidan’s prefers to worship as only two congregations, the 8 o’clock contemplative service, and the 10 o’clock service with music and Sunday School, we need a larger, liturgically adaptive, and more welcoming sanctuary. Research and anecdotal experience shows that worship space does impact church attendance.

In gaining the enlarged sanctuary, will any current facilities be lost?

The new plan can be carried out without encroaching on any other facilities, as it will expand the church into the garden on the ocean side of the church.

What is the timeline for this project?

If the membership of the church discerns that we should move to the next phase, we would begin the Feasibility Study for a Capital Campaign this summer, and pending a positive outcome, begin the Campaign in the fall. At the same time, we would engage a Pre-Construction Contractor to work with our Architects in the development of final drawings for the building project and begin the permitting process with the City and Coastal Commission. Construction would likely not begin until 2010 at the earliest.

Where will the services be held while the chapel is under construction?

Services may be held, as they were when we put the new floor in the church about twelve years ago, in the Parish Hall and on the Patio, or the Vestry may decide to rent or borrow Sunday facilities.

How long will construction take?

The architects estimate that this project will require from nine to eighteen months to complete.

How will construction affect the day-to-day life of students in the Pre-School and Sunday School?

We will select a contractor who can work safely around the school, fencing the site carefully and maintaining a good separation between construction workers and the school children and staff.

What is the estimated cost of this project?

We believe that the whole project (excluding the memorial garden and the sacristy remodel) will cost just over one million dollars, including non-construction expenses such as permits, fees, and testing. We will not know the exact cost until we have solicited construction bids, and the dollar figure could go higher or lower depending on bids received.

What would it cost to remodel the sacristy and install the meditation and memorial garden?

The costs of remodeling the sacristy and building the memorial garden are not included in our estimate. We tentatively estimate the memorial garden at $100,000, plus landscape architect fees. Remodeling the sacristy is challenging because of its location against the hillside; if the Church would like to include it in the project we need to study it further.

Where will the stained glass windows go in the new building?

Judson’s, the firm which created our stained glass windows, assures us that the windows can be moved so that they will be visible and prominent in the church. There is the possibility of adding a third window so that no matter where one sat, one of our beautiful windows would be easily in view. The etched glass window can be easily moved to a similar location in the remodeled sanctuary.

Where will the Christus Rex (the cross behind the altar) be in the remodeled sanctuary?

This is a question on which we would like the input of parishioners. It may be best left where it is, on a wall tall enough to view it effectively. In that position, it would greet us as we entered the main door.

What will happen to the pews, many of which were given as memorials?

The seating in the remodeled church would include both pews and movable chairs. The pews can be reconfigured by a specialist manufacturer so that we can keep and expand them. The remodeled church will have 34 new seats (23 in pews and 11 in chairs) plus an “overflow” area of 25 chairs along the back wall available for Christmas and Easter.

What will happen to the kneelers created by the women of St. Aidan’s?

If we decide to maintain an altar rail, the kneelers will be around it, perhaps on raised platforms, as giving handicapped access to lectors, LEMS, acolytes, and priests will move the altar onto the level floor of the church. If we decide not to have an altar rail, we will find another effective use for these beautiful pieces of needlework.

Are we satisfied with the placement of the choir and organ in the new plans?

The final drawings for the church have not been made at this time, and there is time to reconsider this placement, to visit some similar churches, and to see and listen to their musical arrangements before we make ours final. An acoustician will consult with the architect.

Will the Church launch a Capital Campaign to help fund this construction?

Yes, that will be essential. It is our hope that the Campaign will pay entirely for the remodeling, retire some of our existing debt, and activate our Planned Giving Program. The campaign will not be launched without the careful selection of a reputable fund-raising consultant and the successful completion of a feasibility study. The Vestry does not presently expect to move ahead with a plan that will increase the debt of the parish.

How have the architectural studies been funded to date?

The architect’s fees have been funded from the gift to the parish for its sanctuary expansion.

What happened to the previous plans?

The previous plans were beautiful and ambitious, but when the Rev. Susan Klein left for St. Alban’s, they were put aside. Several of us on this Building Committee also served on the previous one. At the time of their presentation to the congregation about five years ago, about 1/3 of the parishioners favored the plans, 1/3 were neutral, and 1/3 were not in favor of moving forward. The present plans will be much less costly to realize.

How can I help St. Aidan’s in this discernment process?

Please attend one of the discernment meetings and make your voice heard about how St. Aidan’s Church can best fulfill its Mission. Please keep the Parish and its Vestry in your prayers in the coming weeks and months as we discern God’s call for St. Aidan’s. As we move forward, consider prayerfully what you can contribute to the growth and fellowship of St. Aidan’s Church.




			Sanctuary Expansion: Proposal A PROPOSAL FOR ST. AIDAN’S WORSHIP SPACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Respectfully submitted by the St. Aidan’s Building Committee Approved for Discussion & Reaction by the St. Aidan’s Vestry Pursuing our Mission The Mission Statement of St. Aidan’s Church “St. Aidan's seeks to be the welcoming heart, hands and voice of Christ in Malibu." INTRODUCTION As St. Aidan’s moves into the 21st Century, we are called to constantly re-examine our community life in the light of our Mission Statement. Are we fulfilling it to the best of our abilities? Can we do more? How can we better live into the spirit of that simple, yet compelling message? In this spirit, the St. Aidan’s Building Committee was commissioned by the Vestry to explore ideas for expanding our lovely sanctuary to better realize that mission, to accommodate the anticipated growth of our community, and to make the worship experience at St. Aidans as welcoming and inclusive as it can possibly be for newcomers and long-time parishioners alike. The Building Committee has fulfilled its mission to the best of its ability, and as we move forward into the discernment process on this proposal, we ask that each and every one of you participate in the same spirit – bringing your love for this parish and this community to bear on the question of its shape and purpose in the years to come. WHY HAVE NEW PLANS BEEN POSTED? Following the spring 2009 House Meetings, the Building Committee took your concerns back to our architect, Cory Buckner, and asked her to draw two alternate plans that addressed your desires. Specifically, we asked that the stained glass windows and Christus Rex maintain their places of prominence, that the sacristy expansion be further investigated, and that a central aisle be maintained. The church’s musicians also wanted a more effective choir placement, and the Healing Prayer group expressed a desire for a side chapel for their ministry. Both of the new plans address these issues. Cory Buckner and Nick Roberts presented the two new plans, labeled D and E, to the Parish on Sunday, September 13. The plans are currently on display here on the Web site and in the Parish Hall. The Vestry and Building Committee want all members of St. Aidan’s Parish to get acquainted with these plans and to express their opinions about the plans. The Comment form is available by the plans in the Parish Hall and as a download from this Web site. There will be a Building Committee Member available every Sunday in October to explain the plans and answer your questions in the Parish Hall after the 10 AM service. Please return a completed comment form to the Building Committee member, the Rector, or the church office by early November. Downloadable Feedback Form BACKGROUND Why is St. Aidan’s considering embarking on expanding our sanctuary now? The last four Vestries of St. Aidan’s have believed that the parish is growing and that a larger, enhanced, and more welcoming sanctuary is necessary. About four years ago the Church received, from a parishioner, an anonymous gift of $250,000 to begin the process of realizing a sanctuary expansion project. In June of 2007, the Vestry began to discuss ways to seat more members in our main service with the Dean of our Deanery, the Rev. Jim Newman, of St. Bede’s in Mar Vista, whose church had undertaken a successful expansion project. In fall of 2007, the Vestry appointed a Building Committee, and in December, after meeting with two appropriate architectural firms, the committee selected Cory Buckner, Architect, to design our project. The plan we are presenting is an enlarged version of one of her three original plans. The Vestry asked that she accomplish the following goals in her plan: 1. Expand the sanctuary by 30 to 40 seats so that the congregation can grow by as many as ten families, the church can accommodate larger weddings, memorial services (including a casket) , and festive services such as baptisms. 2. Move the choir so that it feels part of the congregation. 3. Explore the possibility of changing seating so that the congregation is gathered around the altar as a family. 4. Provide an outside space for prayer and a memorial garden which will be planned and designed if interest during the discernment process warrants this project. 5. Provide excellent access to and seating in the church for those either semi- ambulant or in wheelchairs. 6. Provide speech reinforcement and assisted listening for the hearing impaired. 7. Improve the lighting fixtures with a design in keeping with the original architect A. Quincy Jones’s intent. 8. Improve storage and work space in the sacristy or enlarge it. SOME QUESTIONS ADDRESSED Who is the architect of the new plan, and how was she selected? Cory Buckner is a practicing architect in the Los Angeles area. She has a degree in Fine Arts from Chouinard Art Institute and a Masters’ degree in Architecture from UCLA. She has also studied landscape architecture at UCLA. She was awarded the 2002 Los Angeles Preservation Award, "For the inspiring effort to protect and restore the original Mutual Housing Association homes in Crestwood Hills, preserving important examples of Southern California Modernism, and enhancing the sense of community in a unique neighborhood." She is the author of A. Quincy Jones, published by Phaidon Press and was a finalist for the 2003 Rome Prize. Cory’s husband, Nick Roberts, AIA, is also working on the project and brings extensive experience working with churches to the project. The Building Committee and the Vestry selected Cory Buckner and Nick Roberts because of their backgrounds, their solid research into the history of A. Quincy Jones’s plans for St. Aidan’s Church, their excellent references, and their vision of what we can do to expand and preserve St. Aidan’s Church. Why does the Church need these new facilities? Aren’t the current ones sufficient? Our present chapel was intended to be the School Chapel for a parish school, and a large “church in the round” was planned for the site of the present Rectory. For many years, the chapel was half-full. Almost every Sunday now, the chapel is “full,” and attendance has grown by about 3 persons on average per year at 10 am and has doubled at 8 am in 2007 - 2008. Elderly or handicapped members of the church have difficulty accessing the church and its services. We have no assistance available for members who struggle with hearing, and on dark days, many have trouble reading the service materials. Since St. Aidan’s prefers to worship as only two congregations, the 8 o’clock contemplative service, and the 10 o’clock service with music and Sunday School, we need a larger, liturgically adaptive, and more welcoming sanctuary. Research and anecdotal experience shows that worship space does impact church attendance. In gaining the enlarged sanctuary, will any current facilities be lost? The new plan can be carried out without encroaching on any other facilities, as it will expand the church into the garden on the ocean side of the church. What is the timeline for this project? If the membership of the church discerns that we should move to the next phase, we would begin the Feasibility Study for a Capital Campaign this summer, and pending a positive outcome, begin the Campaign in the fall. At the same time, we would engage a Pre-Construction Contractor to work with our Architects in the development of final drawings for the building project and begin the permitting process with the City and Coastal Commission. Construction would likely not begin until 2010 at the earliest. Where will the services be held while the chapel is under construction? Services may be held, as they were when we put the new floor in the church about twelve years ago, in the Parish Hall and on the Patio, or the Vestry may decide to rent or borrow Sunday facilities. How long will construction take? The architects estimate that this project will require from nine to eighteen months to complete. How will construction affect the day-to-day life of students in the Pre-School and Sunday School? We will select a contractor who can work safely around the school, fencing the site carefully and maintaining a good separation between construction workers and the school children and staff. What is the estimated cost of this project? We believe that the whole project (excluding the memorial garden and the sacristy remodel) will cost just over one million dollars, including non-construction expenses such as permits, fees, and testing. We will not know the exact cost until we have solicited construction bids, and the dollar figure could go higher or lower depending on bids received. What would it cost to remodel the sacristy and install the meditation and memorial garden? The costs of remodeling the sacristy and building the memorial garden are not included in our estimate. We tentatively estimate the memorial garden at $100,000, plus landscape architect fees. Remodeling the sacristy is challenging because of its location against the hillside; if the Church would like to include it in the project we need to study it further. Where will the stained glass windows go in the new building? Judson’s, the firm which created our stained glass windows, assures us that the windows can be moved so that they will be visible and prominent in the church. There is the possibility of adding a third window so that no matter where one sat, one of our beautiful windows would be easily in view. The etched glass window can be easily moved to a similar location in the remodeled sanctuary. Where will the Christus Rex (the cross behind the altar) be in the remodeled sanctuary? This is a question on which we would like the input of parishioners. It may be best left where it is, on a wall tall enough to view it effectively. In that position, it would greet us as we entered the main door. What will happen to the pews, many of which were given as memorials? The seating in the remodeled church would include both pews and movable chairs. The pews can be reconfigured by a specialist manufacturer so that we can keep and expand them. The remodeled church will have 34 new seats (23 in pews and 11 in chairs) plus an “overflow” area of 25 chairs along the back wall available for Christmas and Easter. What will happen to the kneelers created by the women of St. Aidan’s? If we decide to maintain an altar rail, the kneelers will be around it, perhaps on raised platforms, as giving handicapped access to lectors, LEMS, acolytes, and priests will move the altar onto the level floor of the church. If we decide not to have an altar rail, we will find another effective use for these beautiful pieces of needlework. Are we satisfied with the placement of the choir and organ in the new plans? The final drawings for the church have not been made at this time, and there is time to reconsider this placement, to visit some similar churches, and to see and listen to their musical arrangements before we make ours final. An acoustician will consult with the architect. Will the Church launch a Capital Campaign to help fund this construction? Yes, that will be essential. It is our hope that the Campaign will pay entirely for the remodeling, retire some of our existing debt, and activate our Planned Giving Program. The campaign will not be launched without the careful selection of a reputable fund-raising consultant and the successful completion of a feasibility study. The Vestry does not presently expect to move ahead with a plan that will increase the debt of the parish. How have the architectural studies been funded to date? The architect’s fees have been funded from the gift to the parish for its sanctuary expansion. What happened to the previous plans? The previous plans were beautiful and ambitious, but when the Rev. Susan Klein left for St. Alban’s, they were put aside. Several of us on this Building Committee also served on the previous one. At the time of their presentation to the congregation about five years ago, about 1/3 of the parishioners favored the plans, 1/3 were neutral, and 1/3 were not in favor of moving forward. The present plans will be much less costly to realize. How can I help St. Aidan’s in this discernment process? Please attend one of the discernment meetings and make your voice heard about how St. Aidan’s Church can best fulfill its Mission. Please keep the Parish and its Vestry in your prayers in the coming weeks and months as we discern God’s call for St. Aidan’s. As we move forward, consider prayerfully what you can contribute to the growth and fellowship of St. Aidan’s Church.
			Top :: Home :: Site Map Copyright 2009 St. Aidan's Episcopal Church