Donations

December 2007 - Spire Restoration Project

Chalmers-Wesley United Church

We are requesting your help in funding the restoration of the steeple of our church.

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Chalmers-Wesley United Church, built in 1853, was recognized as a historic building by the province in 1995. This imposing Neo-Gothic structure is home to one of the few English-language congregations within the walls of historic Quebec City. These photographs show its soaring 164-foot spire, a feature of the skyline in many a famous picture of Old Quebec. We are very proud of the contribution made to the city by our members throughout our history of more than two centuries. Since 1987 we have been sharing our premises with the French-speaking congregation: L’Église unie Saint-Pierre.

 

Photo of Grande-Allée, Porte Saint-Louis with Chalmers-Wesley Church in   the distance.  Taken circa 1888 by Fred Würtele

Much of the onus of maintaining this building for future generations rests with our current members. Since 1995, we have completed five major phases of renovation, totalling over $1 million: we have repaired the roof structure, covering it with copper, the front stairway, all the masonry walls, pinnacles and buttresses and the tower supporting the spire. We have also restored the magnificent stained-glass windows.

We must now restore the steeple, as repairs are urgently needed. Metal sheeting has rusted and begun to fall, exposing wood to water damage. The photos shown below clearly show the extent of the damage. The project will involve repairing the steeple pinnacles and windows and re-covering the spire with suitable metal. The spire is the most visible and recognizable feature of the church and we feel it important that this landmark be at its best when visitors from around the world arrive in 2008 to celebrate Quebec City’s 400th birthday.

There is no time to lose. Work must begin in the spring of 2008 in order to be completed before the construction deadline at the end of May. We anticipate a contribution from the Fondation du patrimoine religieux du Québec of some $400,000, the major portion of the total project cost of some $600,000. It falls to us, the congregation, to raise the balance of $200,000. Can you help us meet this challenge?

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Please help us to raise the funds necessary to complete this restoration in time for the Quebec 2008 celebrations. Cheques may be made payable to the Chalmers-Wesley Building Fund and sent to 78 rue Ste-Ursule, Quebec, QC  G1R 4E8. 

We will be pleased to answer any questions you may have and we look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,
 
Michael G. Ayre
Chairman, Spire Fund Committee

 

Photographs of Damage to the Steeple

These steeple photos were taken in August 2007 by the architect, Yvan Rodrigue, while suspended in a basket from a 250-foot crane. The purpose was to evaluate, at first hand, the condition of various parts of the steeple and to do certain minor repairs, mainly on sections of the metal covering where it had fallen to the ground, resulting in further structural damage from water.

The architect's verdict was that the steeple area, in a number of its parts, but particularly the metal covering of the spire, required URGENT attention.

This is the purpose of our fund-raising efforts. Our goal is to complete the restoration before the end of November in 2008.

 

  

 

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Unfortunately, in March, one of the four pinnacles to be restored fell off and damaged the roof during Quebec City’s biggest storm this past winter.  This event clearly underscores the urgency of the project. 

You can see the results in these photos taken this spring:

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