RESTORATION PROJECT
On November 8 members and friends of First Church celebrated completion of the building restoration project and rededicated our historic building to the glory of God, in service to the congregation, the community, and the world. Recognized during the service and thanked during the following reception were firms that worked on the two-year project:
John G. Waite Associates, Architects Turner Construction Company–Special Projects Tri-City Scaffold Company Martin Electric Associated Lightning Rod Company Frank Smith Signs Mapco Enterprises Harbrook Associates WeatherGuard Tecta America Reo Welding AJS Masonry Essence of Time (Lockport, NY) Northeast Pest Control WPNT Construction |
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT
from James D. Folts, President, Board of Trustees November 2015 The tall scaffolding that surrounded First Church since the summer of 2014 has come down. Again visible to the world are the elegant twin towers, constructed in 1796 by architect and contractor Philip Hooker, restored to their original appearance. The towers are now illuminated by energy-efficient LED lighting. The clocks facing south, east, and north now operate on computer-controlled motors that adjust for the seasons. The sanctuary roof has been covered with an ice/water barrier, and sheathed in standing-seam copper. Associated eaves and gutters have been fully restored. A dropped roof truss over the southeast side of the sanctuary was discovered, and it has been anchored securely. The parish house has a brand-new slate and membrane roof. |
The Joint Boards of First Church in Albany extend their heartfelt thanks to all members and friends of our congregation for their monetary and moral support of the building restoration project.
Nice article on November 13 in the Times Union: "Faces of Faith: Restoring an Architectural Gem in Albany"

FIRST CHURCH BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT
From James Folts, President Board of Trustees
May 2015
First Church is entering the second season of its major building renovation project. The renovation committee offers to the congregation this report on work completed in 2014 and planned for 2015. The new parish house roof was the major accomplishment of 2014. The old slate roof replaced with new slates and a new rubber membrane underneath to shed water. Asbestos was discovered and abated, the insecure main chimney was rebuilt. Metal dormer windows and new gutters and down spouts completed the work.
The 110-foot towers are an iconic feature of First Church. The scaffolding has permitted close-up inspection of exterior conditions and removal of the sixteen columns. Over the winter craftsmen rebuilt the columns and capitals, and one of the completed columns is now installed temporarily in the Sheridan Avenue lobby. The oval windows have been removed and are being refurbished. Work on the towers this season will be extensive repairs to woodwork, and scraping, stripping, priming, and painting. The original metal dome roofs, possibly the earliest in the U.S., are being preserved and covered with stainless steel. Inside the towers, the floors now have a new membrane roof, and cabling will increase structural stability. Ian Leet has obtained proposals for reactivating the four tower clocks.
The final phase of the project is replacing the church’s copper roof and repairing the built-in gutter system along the north and south sides. Scaffolding began to be erected along the south wall on April 13. The roof will be replaced with new copper sheets with standing-seam covered joints. The eaves, soffits, and gutters will be rebuilt, then scraped, primed, and painted.
The renovation committee, the Board of Trustees, and the Joint Boards have determined to get these big jobs–the roofs, the towers–done now and done well, because conditions would only worsen and costs would only increase. But we have never lost sight of the fact that our church home, however beautiful and historic, is a house of prayer and worship, of song and praise, of mission and service.
From James Folts, President Board of Trustees
May 2015
First Church is entering the second season of its major building renovation project. The renovation committee offers to the congregation this report on work completed in 2014 and planned for 2015. The new parish house roof was the major accomplishment of 2014. The old slate roof replaced with new slates and a new rubber membrane underneath to shed water. Asbestos was discovered and abated, the insecure main chimney was rebuilt. Metal dormer windows and new gutters and down spouts completed the work.
The 110-foot towers are an iconic feature of First Church. The scaffolding has permitted close-up inspection of exterior conditions and removal of the sixteen columns. Over the winter craftsmen rebuilt the columns and capitals, and one of the completed columns is now installed temporarily in the Sheridan Avenue lobby. The oval windows have been removed and are being refurbished. Work on the towers this season will be extensive repairs to woodwork, and scraping, stripping, priming, and painting. The original metal dome roofs, possibly the earliest in the U.S., are being preserved and covered with stainless steel. Inside the towers, the floors now have a new membrane roof, and cabling will increase structural stability. Ian Leet has obtained proposals for reactivating the four tower clocks.
The final phase of the project is replacing the church’s copper roof and repairing the built-in gutter system along the north and south sides. Scaffolding began to be erected along the south wall on April 13. The roof will be replaced with new copper sheets with standing-seam covered joints. The eaves, soffits, and gutters will be rebuilt, then scraped, primed, and painted.
The renovation committee, the Board of Trustees, and the Joint Boards have determined to get these big jobs–the roofs, the towers–done now and done well, because conditions would only worsen and costs would only increase. But we have never lost sight of the fact that our church home, however beautiful and historic, is a house of prayer and worship, of song and praise, of mission and service.