Featured Projects:
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
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Among the largest Episcopal churches in the
United States, St. Martin's in Houston, Texas, was founded
in 1952. The congregation currently stands at nearly 7,600
members practicing a very traditional form of worship and
music. During a recent "Building to Bless" expansion
project, the congregation built a new church, a new parish
hall with a full size commercial kitchen, and remodeled parking
lots, the nursery building and the education building.
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The primary design consideration for the project was to provide
traditional Gothic furnishings that function within the parameters
of modern liturgical practices. St. Martin's is the first gothic-style
church built in Texas in the last half of the century and authenticity
of design and style were vital to the project.
The architectural firm selected for the project was
Jackson & Ryan Architects, Houston. Liturgical furnishings
and organ case were designed by Terry Byrd Eason Design,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Architectural woodwork was
fabricated and installed by New Holland Church Furniture,
an AWI member firm from New Holland, Pennsylvania.
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Included in the $1.6 million Quality Certified woodwork
project were pews, communion rails, pulpit, lectern,
choir (rood) screen, seating and a magnificent pipe organ
case, as well as liturgical appointments such as crosses
and candleholders. The furnishings were designed over
the course of a year and constructed in approximately
six to seven months.
"We were building a grand gothic-style church," explains
William Kovach, CPA, parish administrator. "Authenticity
of design and style were some of the paramount considerations.
When you view many of the grand gothic churches throughout
Europe, one of the most impressive hallmarks is the woodwork
and how it accents the architecture while playing an
extremely important liturgical purpose. We wanted our
worship space to offer the same feeling to those who
entered it as they would receive in those old sacred
churches."
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DESIGN OBJECTIVES
According to Terry Byrd Eason Design, design objectives
were met by creating a dignified setting for the Holy
Eucharist using a carved gothic choir screen as a backdrop
for the chancel. The screen is acoustically transparent,
focusing attention on the liturgy. The pulpit provides
a distinguished place while parishioners are reminded
of their baptismal vows every time they enter through
the narthex into the rear of the nave.
"While the building design is patterned after St.
Elizabeth's Parish Church in Marburg, Germany, the furnishings
take their design cues from traditional geometric gothic
detailing found in historic examples from England," says
the liturgical designer. Quarter sawn White Oak was used
as it is the most traditional selection for gothic-style
woodwork. Veneers used in the seating, also White Oak,
were book matched and end matched, reports Don Long from
New Holland Church Furniture.
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DIVINE ELEMENTS
Deemed the most divine in design and fabrication are the
choir screen and the organ case. "The overall size
and weight of these two items required that they be delivered
in many individual pieces and assembled on site," says
Long. "We worked very closely with the organ provider
to insure that all of the components fit properly in the
casework, and that the construction of the casework would
support the weight of the piping and other mechanisms."
Kovach says that his favorite piece is the organ case. "This
amazing piece of woodwork is front and center in the church.
Its towering presence is impossible to miss. The vast amounts
of intricate carving stand out to all who see it. I was
honored to watch its installation, and witness the technical
and physical difficulties that were overcome to achieve
its successful completion."
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A DIVINE TEAM
It is not often that a project comes along that is of
the scale and scope of St. Martin's and we all feel fortunate
to have been a part of building a church that will serve
this parish for many generations to come, notes the liturgical
designer.
"New Holland has always been good to work with because
they have the right experience and the craftspeople who
understand traditional detailing. We also appreciate their
thorough shop drawings required for each piece that we
have designed," he adds.
"We have worked with the designer of St. Martin's
on numerous other projects, and through the years have
developed an excellent working relationship," continues
Long. "This was our first project with the architect
but found it very easy to work with the firm's personnel.
They were quick to respond to questions and very willing
to meet with us at the site when needed."
St. Martin's Kovach says the parish will be eternally
grateful for the diligence, integrity and high-quality
workmanship the AWI member firm provided on the project.
The woodworking team overcame many difficulties and provided
countless hours of special assistance. "The installers
went far beyond the call of duty to make sure their work
could be done harmoniously with the many other activities
that were taking place at the time," he adds.
As Kovach summarizes the completed work, the magnificence
of the woodwork accents the magnificence of the space.
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