The Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge Starts Renovations

The Washington Memorial Chapel Committee in Valley Forge Park is excited to announce that the first phase of the Chapel’s restoration process has started. Enlisting the help of acclaimed restoration architects Frens and Frens, which is located in West Chester, PA, the Chapel received a thorough assessment to determine the extent of the repair work that would be needed to restore the Chapel back to its original glory.

According to John Carey, Vice President-Special Projects, Washington Memorial Heritage and the Chapel committee member overseeing the construction process, who works directly with Frens and Frens, says that the first, and most important, aspect to the project is what they call “Triage”.

“Right now we are focusing our attention on the areas of the building that require the most attention,” Carey explains. This includes those portions of the Chapel that are showing visible signs of deterioration from three main causes: deferred maintenance, problems in the original design and poorly completed repairs.”

As part of this phase, special attention is being paid to fixing leaks in the roof, ensuring that cracks in the masonry are sealed and testing various cleaning agents and methods to bring back the luster of the Chapel’s original stone and masonry work. This portion of the project should last eight weeks and wrap up around the holidays, according to Carey.

“We worked very closely with the Chapel and Frens and Frens to ensure that the first phase of the restoration process would be finished before the busy holiday season,” he said. “The next phase isn’t scheduled until the spring but we want all of our members and the public to know that are are in full operation during construction.”

The Washington Memorial Chapel Committee is continuing its fundraising campaign to support the next phases of the restoration process.

“As many can see, we are already putting the money we raised to good use by ensuring that we create a structurally safe building while still maintaining the integrity of the Chapel,” said Jason Griggs, the committee’s chairman. “By enlisting the help of Frens and Frens, who are the best in the business, we can all be rest assured that the Chapel, and all that we hold sacred, is in good hands. That’s why I am really looking forward to the next phase of this campaign.”

Construction on the next phase of the Chapel is slated for Spring 2017 and will include more intricate structural improvements to the Chapel. Formal ground breaking ceremonies are expected at that time.

For more information about The Washington Memorial Chapel, visit http://savewashintonmemorial.org

For more information about Frens and Frens, visit http://wmchapel.org

About The Washington Memorial Chapel

The Washington Memorial Chapel was built as a tribute to General George Washington and the Continental soldiers who survived the brutal winter cantonment at Valley Forge in 1778-1779. The inspiration for the Chapel resulted from a sermon preached by the founder and first rector, the Rev. Dr. W. Herbert Burk, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. In June 1903 the cornerstone was laid on private property donated by the I. Heston Todd family. A small framed building preceded the present structure which became known as the Theodore Roosevelt Chapel, in honor of President Roosevelt, who visited the site in 1904. The Chapel was completed in 1917. It is the home of an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Designed by Milton B. Medary, Jr., the Chapel was erected for two purposes. It is the home of an active parish as well as a national memorial to Washington and the Continental Army, welcoming visitors from all over the world and serving as a “wayside chapel” for those who visit Valley Forge National Historical Park.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Both the Chapel and the Washington Memorial Heritage are private organizations. Visitors are often surprised to learn that the Chapel receives no funding from the National Park Service and is not formally affiliated with the Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Washington Memorial Heritage was created as a secular nonprofit, independent of the Chapel. It is a qualifying charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. This allows foundations and individuals who might not contribute to a purely religious organization to aid in the preservation of this magnificent building, which has been described as one of the foremost examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.