HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
216 Main Street, York Springs, PA 17372
717.528.4393 office@yorkspringslutheran.org
Grow in faith,
live in hope,
serve with love.
Holy Trinity is repairing and refurbishing the former Christ Chapel after receiving it from the Episcopal diocese (it was scheduled for demolition).
Our congregation has determined its use, and our Clothing Pantry will be moved into it with other possibilities also in consideration.
Now it's Holy Trinity Community Corner.
Still, there's work to be done and money to be raised!
Scroll down with your mouse (or up with your finger) to see
what has been accomplished so far!
This project is being made financially possible by generous donors, including:
Members and friends of Holy Trinity
The Adams County Community Foundation
Community Aid
Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Endowment Trust
Thrivent
(but more funds are needed to complete the project!)
September, 2022
Pastor Chris, Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan, and Jeremiah Jones at the Deconsecration Service at the Episcopal chapel.
Holy Trinity gets the key to the chapel!
December, 2022
The chimney came down easily as the mortar had deteriorated and the bricks were gathered for reuse.
January, 2023
The roof is replaced!
Community Aid gave us a grant to help with
the payment for the metal roof, soffit, and spouting.
March 25, 2023: Ten members worked on turning pews into reusable lumber, saving the pew's panel doors and the double lectern, and cleaning up the debris on the floor.
The shop vac and some cleaning suppllies were purchased using funds from Thrivent.
The double lectern will be reused. The floors are in generally good shape but the elevated stage needs to be leveled and soft, damaged areas replaced.
May, 2023: Thanks to Connor and Jeremiah Jones for removing the stage so work may be done on the floors.
This historic sign, which was on the chapel's exterior, will be preserved inside.
December, 2023 and again it's Jeremiah and Conner cleaning out a lot of debris and dirt in preparation for replacement and repair of the floor. When asked if we need more volunteers, Jeremiah says that it's a job for just a few due to the space and labor required. He's sure more of us can help as this project progresses!
Filling in loose brickwork and pouring the foundation to prepare floor joists took a couple of Saturdays but these guys got the job done! (March, 2024)
February 3, 2024 and the remaining pews are removed!
We're happy that the organ (shown above), which is still playable, was donated to a pastor who originally saw the organ 25 years ago when he came to do some maintenance at the former chapel with his Episcopal youth group.
Warmer weather brings changes to the building's exterior! A rear ADA-accessible entry door (thanks to a grant from the Lutheran Lower Susquehanna Synod) will soon be in! Professional masons were required for the job. The old windows were removed.
(April, 2024)
Extreme summer heat stalled some work, but Jeremiah and Conner were back volunteering in July to replace the windows' headers.
August: The header prep for the windows was finished and the windowsills are being leveled.
Next, final measurements will be taken and a bid for the windows awarded after discerning those received. Then the old ceiling and loose wall plaster will be removed and the windows can be installed.
Early September:
The final measurements were taken and the windows have been ordered! Fabrication will take about 8 weeks.
In late
September, volunteers emptied the building of everything, storing that which will be repurposed, so that the demolition of the ceiling could begin
Ceiling Demo!
What a dusty
mess!
Our volunteers are the best!
And we have windows!! The mild late October weather allowed the ceiling to be demolished and removed by volunteers and then the windows could be installed by professionals.
All photos are shared by members of the congregation and may not be copied without permission.