Stone Church in Saint John is making progress on its tower, but saving the 200-year-old building is far from finished.
Roughly $1.8 million has already been spent over the past four years to stabilize and repair the leaning tower.
Rev. Jasmine Chandra said the project started with emergency work and expanded into full-scale restoration, including masonry repairs and replacing three of the tower’s four louvres.
“We’ve tried to make sure everything is done properly and built to last,” Chandra said in an interview.
“There have been a lot of masonry jobs that haven’t been done well and haven’t lasted, so we’re making sure we have the right mortar formula, the right experts, and that the work is done with care.”
Chandra explained that each louvre — the window-like structures in the tower — cost about $60,000.
The wood used for the window structure was grown in New Zealand, treated in Europe and shipped to Canada, with the goal of lasting 60 to 70 years.
‘Fixing the tower with tin foil’
The restoration has also involved some unexpected methods.
Chandra said crews used a special kind of tin foil tape to slow the curing process of the mortar and prevent cracking.
“The joke is we’re fixing the tower with tin foil,” she said.
“It’s a kind of tin foil tape that goes over the mortar and slows the curing process down. If your mortar dries too fast, it’s going to crack and weaken.”
The church also installed a structural health monitoring system to track wind, tilt and cracks in the tower. The data shows the tower is now more stable, and the lean has improved.
Tower nearly done, but $2M in work still ahead
The tower is expected to be completed by the end of August.
But Chandra said another $2 million in repairs is still needed for the rest of the church, including stained glass restoration and stone wall repairs.
“We’ve addressed the critical issues, so we have a bit more time,” she said.
“We’ll stretch the rest of the work out over the next six to 10 years, depending on funding and contractor availability.”
Some of the stained glass windows are cracked or bent and were originally made in England, Germany and by a former studio in Toronto.
A historic space with a daily purpose
Chandra said the restoration is about more than preserving history.
The church is used every day for community programs, including English classes, drop-in services, a free laundry program and summer camps for kids.
“This is a building that serves the community in more than just historical ways,” she said.
“That’s the main reason we want to make sure it’s preserved.”
Chandra added that contributions are always welcome as the Stone Church continues its restoration journey.
