St. Andrews by the Lake

Published January 05 2009 in the Duluth News TribuneHappy return home at St. Andrew’sThe congregation of St. Andrews by the Lake Episcopal Church in Duluth had more to celebrate Sunday than the first worship service of the new year.By: Candace Renalls , Duluth News TribuneThe congregation of St. Andrews by the Lake Episcopal Church in Duluth had more to celebrate Sunday than the first worship service of the new year.They had more to rejoice about than their 100-year anniversary.With fanfare, they returned to their 90-year-old church building on Park Point after meeting for the past year at another church while their sanctuary and community hall were undergoing renovations.“It rekindles our whole church community here,” said Tim White of Hawthorne, a 30-year-member, who served as the church liaison with the contractor. “With new paint comes new energy.”The renovation included reconfiguring the 1919 sanctuary while maintaining its historic character and charm. More useable space was created throughout the church at 2802 Minnesota Ave., not by building an addition, but by moving walls and thinking creatively.“Inside, it feels more spacious even though it’s the same amount of space,” said the vicar, the Rev. Cindy Peterson-Wlosinski. “In a way, it’s like walking into a new church but something you know is home.”To ultilize the space more efficiently, church leaders in 2007 brought in Wagner Zaun architects of Duluth who noticed a big problem—the ceiling in the community hall was wavy. A structural engineer determined the trusses supporting that 1970s addition were breaking from the weight of winter snow.Structural repairs were necessary, so the church’s lay leaders changed their strategy. Instead of tackling the renovation in stages, they decided to do the entire $715,000 renovation project at once. Forming committees, church members and church leaders worked on aspects of the project, including the capital campaign and working with the architect.During the renovation, the main entrance was changed, ceilings lifted, roofline altered. A third steeple was added for a Trinity effect, and walls were altered to open up spaces. Rickety basement stairs were replaced. A sprinkler system added; the church’s big red entry doors reused.As much as possible, they went “green,” with energy-efficient windows, better insulation and natural cork flooring in the mission hall and by installing an energy-efficient furnace and water heater and reducing construction waste by reusing materials.The 90-year-old sanctuary stands out in the results.“Being a spiritual place, it was critical to maintain the sanctuary and keep the character of the room,” said longtime member Donn Larson. “Had we modified the sanctuary, it would have disturbed people.”The sanctuary was flip-flopped. The altar and entrance were switched to opposite ends, the pews turned around. The old raised altar area was lowered for greater accessibility. A new section of oak ceiling was stained to match the old, displaced stained glass windows were reused and new carpeting installed.“The sanctuary still has its historic feel to it,” Peterson-Wlosinski said. “It’s warm. It’s the same old woodwork, the same altar. The windows are the old, beautiful windows. We even moved stained glass windows, so we see the same windows.”After Sunday’s service, member J. Clark Laundergan of Esko said: “It feels wonderful to be back. So many things are new, but it’s a familiar space. Everyone is overjoyed.”For the church founded by Scottish Park Pointers in 1908, the renovation is ushering St. Andrew’s into its second century.“It’s a gift for the future,” Peterson-Wlosinski said.