Christ Church celebrates renovation project at ribbon-cutting ceremony

WARWICK — While the Village of Warwick was celebrating its 150 years of incorporation or sesquicentennial, Christ Church at 50 South St. celebrated its own 150th anniversary with an expansive renovation.
On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, Mayor Michael Newhard and members of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce joined Rector Rev. Jim Erwin, general contractors Thom and David Woglom and their staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the project's first phase.
Second floor classroom space addedAfter several years of planning and fund raising, the parish now has an additional 2,400 square feet of space to accommodate its growing congregation and the surrounding community.
This major structural change added a second floor to the parish hall for classrooms and meeting rooms. And the parish offices have been moved and improved, allowing easier access and updated networking connections for the office.
The public restrooms and entryways also incorporate improved handicap accessibility.
One of the rooms on the second floor, for example, is a rehearsal studio for Jubilate, the Community Youth Choir of Warwick, which includes a small stage that was built above the indoor handicap access ramp.
Custom-made gable trussesThe one-story parish hall, which was added on in 1965, now boasts majestic, custom-made gable trusses that complement the original sanctuary.
There is also a choir loft and a new kitchen.
"The changes to the parish hall are spectacular," said Erwin, "and create so many opportunities for parish gatherings and our public outreach programs."
The hall is used for Sunday school, an active high school youth group and other educational services. These programs are growing along with outreach ministries like the popular Saturday morning free pancake breakfast; a thriving thrift shop; and a busy schedule of meetings for various self-help groups.
The work was performed by Thom Woglom Construction.
"I was very proud," said Woglom, "to watch my son David manage the intricacies of this project, from custom-fitting the gable trusses, managing a lot of large equipment on a busy road or a very small parking area, to the details of how the kitchen should be laid out to work best for the different events."
The contractor worked closely with Irace Architects.
The classrooms will be completed in phase two along with details in the other rooms on the new second floor, which Woglom expects to be completed in the next year.
Photo gallery A photo gallery detailing the progress of the renovation can be viewed online at woglomconstruction.com or on the contractor's Facebook page at Facebook.com/ThomWoglomConstruction.
- Roger Gavan