If all goes according to plan, the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church of Claridon will be open for services on Christmas Eve after more than two years of reconstruction.
If all goes according to plan, the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church of Claridon will be open for services on Christmas Eve after more than two years of reconstruction.
The restoration of the sanctuary became necessary when the ceiling suddenly collapsed Jan. 10, 2021, Susan Vokoun, head trustee, said during a tour of the sanctuary in early December.
Fortunately, no one was in the sanctuary when the nails gave way and deposited piles of wood, plaster and other material on the historic pews, she said.
“There was pink insulation higher than my knees,” Vokoun recalled.
The church body has been holding worship services in a number of places, including the Claridon Township administration building; outdoors as weather permitted; and, once the building was declared safe, in the downstairs social hall, she said.
On Dec. 9, the day of the church’s 23rd annual cookie walk, the sanctuary smelled of paint and varnish, and the pews were missing — out for a facelift by Greg Frost of Frost Architectural Preservation Inc. of Cleveland, Vokoun said, adding the ceiling and sanctuary work has been completed by the Marous Brothers.
“The backs of all the pews were planed from one single white wood tree during the church’s construction in 1831,” Vokoun said. “Boards from the former wooden ceiling are being reconstructed into a backdrop at the front of the church.”
She hopes the sanctuary will be ready for Christmas, adding the church building is believed to be the oldest in Geauga County and has been in continuous use for almost 200 years.
The annual cookie walk fundraiser, announced on the marquis in front of the church at 13942 Mayfield Road, was co-chaired by Donna Vaccariello and Vokoun, and proved to be very popular. By 11 a.m., there were only three boxes of cookies left of the 75 two-pound containers sold for $8 per box earlier in the day.
Besides the 10 a.m. Sunday service and the 7:30 p.m. sing-along Dec. 24, an open house is planned for noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 7 for area residents to view the renovated sanctuary, Vokoun said.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
The First Congregational Church of Claridon Sunday service begins at 10 a.m. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at 13942 Mayfield Road, Claridon Township.
A traditional evening service sing-along will begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by the service of scripture, carols and candlelight at 8 p.m.
