St. Paul Achieves Dream of Accessibility

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Chatham achieved a longtime dream this month by becoming fully handicap accessible following the installation of a new elevator. The elevator project was the cornerstone of the church’s first capital campaign in 20 years.

“At St. Paul’s we pride ourselves on welcoming everyone in our midst, but our ability to do so was hindered by the fact that our buildings were not handicap accessible,” said Reverend Mary Davis, Rector of St. Paul’s. Like most buildings constructed in the 1960’s, St. Paul’s facilities were constructed without being accessible.

Since coming to St. Paul’s 5-years ago, “Reverend Mary”, as she likes to be called, said it had been a dream of hers to see St. Paul’s become fully handicap accessible. But in order to do so, it would be necessary to launch a capital campaign, something St. Paul’s had not done in over 20-years.

The successful capital campaign, “The Heart of St. Paul’s: Faith Without Limits,” was led by Campaign Chairs Burt Rea, Laurie Romei, and Phil White, and Senior Warden Joe LaVela and Junior Warden Allison Pishko. The campaign also enabled St. Paul’s to install a new organ which was dedicated to the loving memory of long-time Chatham native Betty Stockly. Additionally, the congregation was able to upgrade and modernize its facilities throughout their campus.

Local Chatham architects and St. Paul’s members, Brian and Janet Siegel, oversaw the construction for the church and the work itself was performed by local contractor, Nick Navarino of Renaissance Building.

“At a time when many churches are struggling, St. Paul’s has been thriving,” said LaVela. “The capital campaign is only one of many examples of the strength of the St. Paul’s congregation. The campaign is even more impressive when you consider how many churches run deficits, draw down their endowments, and make massive cuts to their programs, outreach, and giving.”

“What makes St. Paul’s special is that is welcomes, celebrates and accepts people for who they are and wherever they are on their spiritual walk,” said Pishko. “Whenever new people to come to St. Paul’s they refer to it as a ‘happy church’. There is just something special about the multi-generation worship that takes place every Sunday.” Pishko herself worships every Sunday with her parents, husband and daughters.

Surveying the new elevator and upgraded facilities, Reverend Mary said with pride, “We have done this together, following God’s voice and the Spirit’s lead, and the year ahead will be ripe with even more new ministries and expressions of our faith as we live into our newly accessible building.”