Thank you to Jim Cooper and Steve Eaton for all their numerous hours, up to 30 hours per week, in being instrumental in returning us to our Meeting House.  We appreciate all the contractors who have assisted us.  We thank the many volunteers who spent countless hours painting, moving furniture, staining, repairing and praying for the completion of this daunting task. 

Thank you

Feb 16th, 2008
Video of building under construction
Walking through hallway and sanctuary.

NICC Video 3    0m54s  1.01MB
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NICC Video 4    0m36s  0.69MB
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NICC Video 5    0m46s  0.88MB
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NICC Video 6    1m33s  1.72MB
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NICC Video 7    0m11s  0.24MB
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NICC Video 8    0m38s  0.74MB
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August 2008

As we get prepared to move back to the Meeting House that has undergone a transformation of giant proportions, it is important to remember all the work that has gone into this project.  First we are reminded of the charge given to the Building Committee by the Executive Ministry Team and the appointment of members to the Building Committee. (See below)  We believe that we, as a Building Committee, were diligent in our work in fulfilling the charge as there were a lot of tasks to undertake before we could get to the rebuilding stage.  We believe that we, as a committee, covered every topic in detail so that there would be no stone unturned.  We also believe that after meeting with engineers, architects and experts on wood structures that the decisions made by this committee were in accordance with our charge.
The building is still in various stages of being finished.  We have tile being laid and bathroom fixtures being installed in new bathrooms.  We have carpet and a sound system being installed.  We have a new kitchen being completed.  We have also had the pews reworked and are ready for their reinstallation in the sanctuary.
There is new lighting through out the interior and exterior, as well as new electrical outlets both inside and outside.  The elevator/lift will be operational shortly and all new hardware put on the doors.   We have insulated the building and put a new roof on it as well.  With these items taking place it will insure us of a weather tight and efficient building.
The move in will be a work in process.  There will be work details to complete all kinds of various tasks.  Stay tuned.
If there are any concerns, comments or recommendations that you may have about the building please do not hesitate to contact the trustees or job coordinators.
We would like to thank the congregation for all the work that everyone has put into the project.  From the beginning when the walls had to be opened to expose the stone foundation, to the tiles being torn up from all the floors. to the painting and staining being done, to the pews being reworked and all the other unmentioned tasks that have been completed, we as a congregation have pulled together to accomplish all these tasks and will accomplish many more.
We would also like to thank the many members of our community that have come forward and donated services, labor and materials so that we may get into our building.
We are a loving and giving church and we are recognized in the community as such.  With our doors opening soon let us welcome everyone in and show them what God has done with our structure because it is only through Him that all these things were possible.
Rebuilding in His Name,
Mark Krook, Valera Nichols, Ken Lehtonen, Mary Lou Cunningham, Janet Brown, Chris Lund, and Steve Eaton

NICC Building Committee Charge

The Executive Committee of NICC appoints this Building Committee for the following purpose:

To investigate short term solutions to the building problems identified by structural engineers, Kimball Chase, and in a timely manner to bring to the membership for their vote the most feasible solution along with associated costs.
To oversee any work that is approved to stabilize the structure and to ensure that it is completed on time and in line with approved costs.
To investigate the long term space needs of the NICC including, but not limited to sanctuary size, classroom needs, office space, fellowship/kitchen area and parking.  To work with the Funding Committee that has been appointed to determine possible cost ranges that can be supported by NICC membership.
To work with architects and potential contractors to determine possible designs and costs and to bring these proposals to the members for their vote.  To obtain all necessary approvals and permits from the Town of New Ipswich.  To ensure that all proposals comply with all Federal and State laws for safety and building codes for public use facilities.
After approval of the membership for new construction, to work with the approved contractor to ensure that construction is completed on time, in accordance with the approved plan and in line with the approved contract cost.
The committee should appoint a chairperson, prepare minutes of all meetings, have a representative at all Executive Committee meetings and provide updates to the membership on a regular basis by way of newsletter articles, bulleting announcements, et cetera.
The committee should stay in regular contact with the Pastor, the Moderator and the Trustees keeping them updated on the progress of their work and providing adequate notice of any congregational meetings that may needed.

The work detail to get the tiles out of the way so they can grind the basement floor has been completed.  The pews have been relocated to the back classrooms so that we can start working, repairing and reassembling them.  The upper parking lot is getting patched and the trench containing the drain pipes will be capped with concrete. The upper side entry way will have a new concrete sidewalk.  The tension rods in the sanctuary have been painted.  The wood shingle work and painting has been completed on the exterior.  As you can see a lot has been done and there is still a lot left to do.  There will be announcements coming for more work details as we get closer to accomplishing our goal of getting into our Church.  A great big thank you to all you have volunteered their time to help with all the various tasks and details that have to be done.

The Building Committee is please to announce that our anticipated date of return to our building is the mid to end of July.  Please continue to pray for our Project Managers - Steve Eaton and Jim Cooper.  Their task is coming to an end, but they have a ways to go.  Thank you to all who have helped with the building and the supporting families.  As the song states, "We are the Church, You are the Church", but it will be good to return to our meeting house.

The building committee is excited to report that various phases of construction are underway.  I would first like to thank the finance committee for all their work in securing financing for the project.  The roof has been completely replaced.  The rough electrical and plumbing are underway and the balcony's rough framing is being worked.  The general framing is coming along and Jim and Steve are working hard to see that everything is on track, both physically and financially.
Pastor Wood and the deacons are finalizing the details for the sanctuary and as of the writing of this we are meeting with the organ company and the audio / visual company to work out the details of both of these tasks.  Our subcommittees are also working on tasks such as space needs, kitchen layout, colors, lighting and altar design to name a few.
If you are interested in taking a physical peek at what is going on please see Jim or Steve.  (Sunday after worship is usually a good time.)

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Renovations to historic church brings building into 21st century

Published: Monday, February 11, 2008

By JESSIE SALISBURY, Telegraph Correspondent

NEW IPSWICH – Except for some staging and a blue plastic tarp covering the roof, the outside of the New Ipswich Congregational Church looks as it has since 1902. However, almost all the original interior is gone.

Walls and ceiling are stripped to the studding. The rear sanctuary wall was removed. And the stained-glass windows, pews and other furniture have been removed to safe storage.

But, by early summer, the congregation should be able to return from their current place of worship at Mascenic Regional High School.

In September 2006, the walls of the church were found to be bowing out. The structural engineer, who had been hired to evaluate the building in preparation for an expansion, suggested it would be prudent to move out.

Jim Cooper, a church trustee and one of the restoration project coordinators, recently provided a walk-through tour of the restorations.

The church members considered the report, Cooper said, and while a few people recommended tearing it down and building a new church, they couldn't bear to destroy the historic building.

"We felt this has been a community church so long, it was best to keep the shell," Cooper said.

Architect Bruce Hamilton of New Ipswich created the new design of the interior, and the work is being done by Old Time Restorations of Massachusetts. Total cost of the work is about $700,000, Cooper said.

"Luckily, we had a couple of hundred thousand in investments, and we've applied for grants and a mortgage," he said.

And there's been a lot of fundraising. A recent auction was very successful, he said, adding that the church youth group sold subs for Super Bowl Sunday to benefit the church restorations.

Correspondent photo by Jessie Salisbury A new altar will be located at the west end of the sanctuary of the New Ipswich Congregational Church. The cribbing tower is one of two left in place as new supports are installed.

The major change to the sanctuary will involve moving the alter from the east to the west end and adding a balcony at the west end. The nave will be made longer by the removal of a wall so that an additional 50 seats can be installed, bringing the capacity to 269. The balcony will be primarily for organ and choir but will serve as overflow seating, Cooper said.

The stained glass windows will be cleaned and restored, and the pipe organ is currently being cleaned and restored.

The work involved "jacking up the original roof, which is a truss with some sort of historical significance," Cooper said. "We had to jack up the west end about 5 inches and the east end about 2-1/2 (inches)."

The roof truss was found to be "about 10 inches out and is now back in plumb," he said.

Two steel rods will remain in place because the wood has developed memory, meaning once the wood is out of line, it tends to return to that position.

Also repaired was the foundation under the columns that supported the roof.

"We did a lot of foundation work," Cooper said.

A water seepage problem in the basement has been repaired and a new lobby and stairs were installed to encourage parishioners to use that entrance in bad weather. Other additions include new bathrooms and a handicapped lift. The new church will meet all life-safety codes.

A church member and owner of a dry wall company donated all the labor for installation, Cooper said.

• "We feel being able to reopen in June is a reasonable goal," Cooper said. "It was great that Mascenic High School was available (for services), but it's not home."

The church was organized in 1750 and the present building erected in 1902, replacing an 1815 church destroyed in a spectacular fire caused by a lightning strike. The church has about 150 members.
 

 

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We are pleased to announce that our coordinators for the project are Jim Cooper and Steve Eaton. As you can already see they have been hard at work with the contractor making sure the building permit was in place and going over details of the project that are important to us.  I have recently returned from vacation and was so excited to see the work that had begun. I got to take a first hand look at the work as Steve Curtis, Old Time Restoration, gave me a tour through the structure as it had been gutted and exposed.  As of the writing of this a little over ten dumpsters had been used for the demo work. I asked about insulation in the walls and was told that there was little to none. (I am thinking about the fuel/financial savings once the new insulation is in). I was also briefed by Jim Cooper and was shown by Steve Curtis the column/support that was inside the altar wall. This support was actually cracked and bulging. (The expansion helped us uncover this problem. This column/ support will be removed to accommodate the expansion). I was also shown that the pipe for the kitchen drain was found and that it will be plumbed into the septic drain. The perimeter drainage system was going in as well as the parging (filling in of the cracks with cement) of the stack stone foundation. This will eliminate the water issues in the basement.  Steve Curtis told me that the job was going well and that the communication with the coordinators was great. I hope that we will have a slide presentation soon so that everyone else can see the magnificent work that is being done.  I was thinking about our up and coming event “The Light Still Shines at NICC” and can’t help but get excited and think that this project is a beacon to all to show that with God’s love and promise all things are possible and that during this Christmas Season we may all realize the gifts and blessings He bestows on us everyday and be a grateful people. 

Merry Christmas!
Building Committee

The Building Committee is looking for people to sign up and volunteer time and talents for the

following sub committees:
Color/Lighting
Sound/Music
Kitchen Upgrade
Space Usage
Public Relations
Landscaping

See a member of the Building Committee if you are interested.

There is also a request from the Funding Committee looking for new people to serve on that committee as well. See Bob Romeril if you are interested.

We would like to thank the entire congregation for their support, love and prayers over the last year. We know the process took a long time and with your patience and God’s guidance, we as a committee, were able to do the work. We feel this project that we are undertaking is a true testament of the faith and strength that this congregation has. In the weeks to come we will all see the work start to take place. During this time we need to be patient and prayerful. We would ask that any questions or comments you have during this process be directed to the building committee or trustees. We will also have periodic updates of the work in progress. Thank you for the continued support and commitment to this project and continue to pray for us during this time.