Beach Chapel needs help with foundation
An urgent restoration project is underway for the oldest church on Fort Myers Beach. Chapel by the Sea at the 2500 Estero Blvd. block on 100 Chapel St. is in need of dire repair due to an aging foundation that has caused the building’s pillars to crumble.
According to Church Administrator Linda Baldwin, 49 of the 52 pillars under the Chapel’s sanctuary are either so severely worn, damaged or in need of attention that if repair is not completed within the next 12 to 18 months, the deteriorating foundation may cause damage to the rest of the building and the roof may begin to buckle.
“The foundation was strong 25 years ago, but water intrusion from Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Wilma and other no-name storms has taken its toll on the pillars,” said Baldwin. “The technology and knowledge base for building concrete pillars has also changed considerably in that time. We were in danger of losing some of our pillars. Once (construction workers) began taking off all of the old, crumbling cement around the rebar, they found the rebar rusted.”
Chapel Rev. Maynard Pittendreigh likened the damage and needed repair to dental work before the actual construction began March 1.
“We are not simply patching over the damage,” he said. “Workers will drill out the decay and then replace rusted metal rebar with new metal. All of that will be coated so it will be better protected for the future. Then new concrete will be placed in the pillars of the foundation. And finally, an eight-inch thick protective collar will be installed around the pillars so as to eliminate the possibility of having to repeat this process again.”
The restoration project, which will increase the pillar inch size from 14 by 14 by 48 to 30 by 30 by 48, is estimated to cost roughly $300,000 and expected to be completed by June, according to Baldwin. Members of the popular congregation, known affectionately as ‘a church for the community,’ are hoping residents and business officials of the community will help out in their restoration project.
“Donations are gladly accepted,” said Baldwin. “We feel that many people in the community if they knew what was happening would want to help Chapel, especially if Chapel has touched their lives some way.”
Chapel by the Sea was first established in 1932. According to its history, the original building was given to a church in Harlem Heights in Fort Myers and moved off the island. The current Sanctuary was built in 1985 and has housed community groups and activities such as the Salvation Army, Weight Watchers, Boy Scouts Troop 999, Bay Oaks Social Seniors’ bridge groups, many Alcoholics Anonymous organizational meetings, the Beach Ministerial Association’s community breakfast for the needy, God’s Table and the Roman Catholic Church’s St. Vincent DePaul. Even FMB Town Hall officials temporarily used the building for meeting space when their current facility was being remodeled.
The time is now to give back to a place that has given so much.
“It is incredible to see the amount of community activity happening here at Chapel,” said Pittendreigh before the construction. “We are always honored that everyone feels so welcome and sees us as a church for the community. We hope that there are individuals on Fort Myers Beach who will be able to contribute to our foundation campaign so we can continue to serve the people of our town.”
Bob Nunn, one of the elders of the Chapel, is chairing the Capital Fund Campaign. He and his team started the campaign on February 28. Individuals will be invited to contribute on a one-time basis or over a two-year period. Donations can be made through various transactions including the Chapel phone line (463-3173); via mail (Chapel by the Sea, P.O. Box 2997, Fort Myers Beach, FL, 33932) or by online donations through a link on the church’s Web site (www.chapelBTS.org).
Rev. Don Jafvert, the pastor emeritus of Chapel by the Sea, also has pledged to help. According to Pittendreigh, Jafvert was the pastor who made the construction of the present sanctuary possible.
“My wife and I are anxious, willing and eager to come to Chapel to help kick off this project,” said Jafvert before the construction. “I have a hunch the pillars of the Chapel foundation need all the support they can get.”