St. John’s Episcopal and Grace Lutheran churches in Franklin have worked to create an atmosphere of community, first separately, then collaboratively. Their latest efforts will further their mission by increasing accessibility to their main worship space.
“We are blessed to be members of our community and dedicated to bettering the cultural, emotional, relational, and spiritual health of all through in-reach (prayer and service) and outreach (programs which benefit all),” said Rev. Shawn Clerkin. He serves as the leader for the Franklin area Episcopalians and interim pastor of the Lutherans, who both meet at the historic Buffalo Street location. “While we are two churches, we are one congregation,” he said.
“We are blessed to be members of our community and dedicated to bettering the cultural, emotional, relational, and spiritual health of all through in-reach (prayer and service) and outreach (programs which benefit all),” said Rev. Shawn Clerkin. He serves as the leader for the Franklin area Episcopalians and interim pastor of the Lutherans, who both meet at the historic Buffalo Street location. “While we are two churches, we are one congregation,” he said.
This includes their missions to serve to “Love God, Love Your Neighbor, Change the World” and “God’s Work, Our Hands.”
To further those missions, the 150-member congregation is renovating the nave, the central part of the church designed to hold worship services which features a unique and complete set of Tiffany windows.
“The church is a community treasure. They (the windows) belong to the Franklin community as well,” Clerkin said. “You stand in the center of the church and everything is a Tiffany window.”
To further those missions, the 150-member congregation is renovating the nave, the central part of the church designed to hold worship services which features a unique and complete set of Tiffany windows.
“The church is a community treasure. They (the windows) belong to the Franklin community as well,” Clerkin said. “You stand in the center of the church and everything is a Tiffany window.”
To make that experience and services more accessible to community members, the pews are being lowered and relocated. Currently, they sit on a 2-inch platform and are spaced closely to each other. This means it is difficult for those with mobility impairments to attend services or for the church to be used for other events.
Clerkin said the current setup would not be approved under current design and construction standards but is permitted because it was built following the 1901 reconstruction of the church. “Being grandfathered doesn’t mean you are being hospitable.”
It will take about $32,000 to remove the platform, place down a new floor that will compliment the existing marble aisle tile, relocate the baptismal font, and remove some of the pews to create more leg move between the remaining sitting. Shorten pews will also be placed throughout the nave to give those using wheelchairs choices as to where to sit. The goal is to make the space welcoming, inclusive and safe that still honors the historic look and feel of the nave.
Clerkin said the current setup would not be approved under current design and construction standards but is permitted because it was built following the 1901 reconstruction of the church. “Being grandfathered doesn’t mean you are being hospitable.”
It will take about $32,000 to remove the platform, place down a new floor that will compliment the existing marble aisle tile, relocate the baptismal font, and remove some of the pews to create more leg move between the remaining sitting. Shorten pews will also be placed throughout the nave to give those using wheelchairs choices as to where to sit. The goal is to make the space welcoming, inclusive and safe that still honors the historic look and feel of the nave.
Work will be done between religious holidays. On the Monday after Easter, Matthews Construction and Painting of Franklin started the work to remove the platforms along both sides of the nave aisle as well as the platform in the choir area at the front of the room. The transformation should be completed in time for the Pentecost observance, 50 days after Easter, Clerkin said.
Raising the funds for the project also happened quickly. Since announcing the project at the start of the year, the congregation received large donations from two groups associated with the church and raised nearly $3,000 from friends, families and members.
Additional donations are being accepted.
Raising the funds for the project also happened quickly. Since announcing the project at the start of the year, the congregation received large donations from two groups associated with the church and raised nearly $3,000 from friends, families and members.
Additional donations are being accepted.
| The quick turnaround of the project means the church can swiftly turn its attention back to its outreach efforts, including tours of the Tiffany windows, a variety of spiritual offerings, and hosting programs such as the Shepherd’s Green Food Pantry and Stephen Ministries. “Our business is the welfare of the community,” Clerkin said. He says the renovations should allow the congregation to expand on their community offerings. “We would love for this space to be used for other things, for concerts, for speakers.” |  |
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