West Gable Wall Reconstruction

The West Gable Wall showed signs of cracking and the stones on the inside had become loose and detached (West Gable Wall and West Gable Wall contd.)).  The pictures below show the demolition and reconstruction of the wall.  A 4 inch thick, steel reinforced concrete wall was to be cast from the ground floor all the way up to the roof line.  However the condition of the remaining wall was so bad we had to thicken the wall and include integral beams and columns.  Once the wall was complete the stones were reattached to the front to achieve the same appearance. 

Before and After

A before and after panoramic view of the floor.  Both photos taken from the main aisle looking south.

The unpaved areas will be filled with coloured concrete and then polished.

Pews

We have started a fund raising drive for the pews.  You can download and or print the pledge form here.

 

 

Type A $10,500 XCD each

Type B $8,300 XCD each

Type C $5,500 XCD each

Type D $5,200 XCD each

Type E $3,400 XCD each

Type F $1,900 XCD each

 

 Click here to convert XCD (Eastern Caribbean Dollars) to USD or any other currency.



 

Closed

Main Aisle Foundations

Main Aisle Slabs

We have reached an important and significant milestone.  The aisles have not been paved but the metal decking and steel reinforcement are in place and the foundations are closed. 

Since we removed the pews, the pew flooring and the stone slabs in the aisle, the foundations of the Cathedral have been open for all to see.  We saw the air passages that ventilated the Cathedral, the rainwater drains that carried water to the cistern outside the building and the short limestone foundation walls.  And how surprised we were to see the simple, straight forward and somewhat shallow depth of the foundations.  All our lives we have heard one story tale after another about what lay in the bowels of the Cathedral.  Everything from dormant volcanoes to underground passages to other islands.  However we should note that what we were looking at had not been viewed in over 160 years.  This means that those who saw and knew what was under there had long died and those who did not were left to speculate and fantasize as to what it may be.  And we should not be surprised.  West Indian culture loves to speculate and fantasize.  Tie in a healthy fear of God and you have the makings of the great many yarns we have heard about the Cathedral.  However 160 years also means that means we witnessed something our parents, grand parents and even our great-grandparents had not seen.  God willing it will also mean that it is something that our children, grandchildren and even our great-grandchildren will also not see.  One wonders what yarns about the Cathedral they will spin then.

The construction of this Cathedral started in October 1845 and was completed in October 1847.  This Restoration began in October of 2010.  Let us pray that it will be an equally long time before these foundations are ever seen this way again.

Restoration News Vol 1 Issue 10

They did it!

True to their word, the workers at the Cathedral made up for lost time and completed the second pour today.  We will start preparations for work on the West Gable wall tomorrow, a full two weeks ahead of schedule.

Areas Ready for Concrete

Concrete Truck and Pump just as before

Pouring

Spreading

 Yes, that is a woman shin deep in the concrete.  Work on the Restoration of St. John's Cathedral is not for men alone.

Screeding

Finished

Concrete Floor

The concrete has cured and the forms have been removed.  The concrete slabs you see in the pictures below will be eventually covered by the pews.  The areas where you can still see the steel reinforcement are the aisles where we will pour coloured concrete and then polish it.

Main Aisle

Underneath the South Balcony

South Transept

First Pour

The first pour of the new Cathedral floor was completed today.  We are casting the areas under the pews first.  The areas for the aisles, since it will be a finished product, will be poured after all major construction work in the interior has been completed. 

Prepared Areas

Concrete Truck and Pump

Pump Setup

Pumped Concrete

Floated Concrete

Floor Reinforcement

The steel reinforcement for most of the new Cathedral floor has been installed.

 

 

 

 

 

Restoration News Vol1 Issue 9

Slow going....again.

Frustration!  I thought we would start this year flying and initially we did.  But a succession of equipment failures have thrown us, as much as three weeks, off schedule.  The foreman assures me it is time we can make up but I doubt we will get back all of those weeks.  As a loveable character in a movie once said, "Just keep swimming."  For me, I'll just keep praying.

The compaction of the fill in the foundation is finally complete.

A Visitor's Perspective

A truly unique and wonderful look at the Cathedral and its surroundings.


St. John's Cathedral, Antigua from jeff bradley on Vimeo.

Restoration News Vol 1 Issue 8

We're back!!  Primarily as an online publication.  Please read, share and enjoy.