Washing the Ceiling Tiles

The painters are "washing" the tin ceiling tiles with paint to dull the bright, shiny metal. The washed tiles are beautiful, but do not distract from the serenity of the Chapel of Peace.

They have finished work on the walls and windowsills. The dark, mellow colors let the lively colors in the windows fill the room with light.

The Chapel is painted

The walls of the Chapel are painted. The electricians are working on the light cans.

Below is a closeup of the faux finish on the walls.

Lots of progress

Here are the latest photos showing the progress on the roof.

Finishing the First Sprire

The roofers have finished installing the copper shingles on the "flat" part of the roof on the south side. They will presumably begin work on the north side of the church soon.

The crane is in position between the church and the school. The roofers are doing work at the base of the southern little spire. This was the first spire to lose its aluminum and wood, then to get rebuilt in metal. They covered seven of its eight sides in copper before they switched to its twin to the north, which was completely covered in copper first because it was easier for the crane to reach it.

Work continues on an overcast day

The smell of fresh paint is in the air in the Chapel. It's paint .... or primer, or a base coat. The photo shows the color of the paint accurately.





Outside, despite the clouds there is no rain, so the work on the roof continues. The large section of roof on the south side of the Nave is nearly done. The roofers are using the crane to lift the copper shingles. It is much easier than hoisting them by rope or carrying them by hand.


Here are a few photos of the work today. As always, click on a photo for a larger version.

The Chapel's carpet is gone

The carpet in the Chapel was rather tired. It's gone. It looks like the workers are going to remove the tiles from a previous floor too.

The painters have put primer on the walls. After it dries, they will apply a base coat. The color should be a shade darker than the primer and should complement the light brown glass in the windows.

The next step is the overhead lights.

The Chapel's Ceiling

No one would confuse Holy Family's Chapel of Peace with the Sistine Chapel. However, visitors to the Chapel of Peace now have a reason to look up.

The new stamped tin ceiling is in place - mostly. There are a few tiles that have yet to be installed. Several of the already-installed tiles need to be moved around so that they match their neighboring tiles.

The walls have been patched and sanded. They are ready for a fresh coat of paint.

Roofing

All the old aluminum on the south side of the roof over the Nave is gone. The new tar paper is up. Workers are busy attaching the hundred of copper shingles to the roof.

Little updates

A roofer carries a roll of tar paper to the roof over the Nave.

The roofers are removing lots of old aluminum and laying new tar paper.

No updates from the Chapel. It's been pretty quiet in there. The tin ceiling experts are working offsite on a finish for the Chapel's ceiling.

Complete: The Northeast Spire

When the roofers finish caulking the Northeast spire today, it will be done. They have removed the rotten wood and old aluminum shingles. They put a metal decking over the steel superstructure, then screwed copper shingles into place. Many of the glass panes in the windows were broken by hail or by the construction process. All the glass is back.



The only change we should see in the next 100 years is a gradual change in the copper's patina.

Roof over the Nave

The roofers are continuing to attach shingles to the roof over the nave.

The Rain Stopped

Yesterday's rain is gone. The roofers are cutting the copper shingles to fit around the west-facing windows in the northeast spire.

Once they finish the northeast spire, they will move the crane in between the Cathedral and school to complete the southeast spire.

Despite rain, work on the spires continues

Rain this morning stopped work on the lower roof. The damp metal is too slippery. It is safe for the roofers to use the crane to work on the spires. The overcast sky is helpful because it prevents the sun from blinding the men. The above photo shows them installing shingles around the windows in the northeast spire. That spire should be done fairly quickly.

Roofers continue across south side of the Nave's roof

The roofers have moved their ladders and safety equipment over to the roof above the Nave. They are staying on the south side of the Cathedral.









The men have a much larger area in which to work this time. They have been tearing off the old aluminum, laying down tar paper, then applying copper shingles.





The nice folks from the skyscraper north of the Cathedral allowed me to shoot a few photos out of an office near the top floor. All the lower roof work is being done on the other side of the building; however, we can see how much roof there is.

More Photos

Update: Nearly done with the first face

The roofers say that they need to finish the copper flashing along either side of the roof. They will install shingles where the ladders lie.

One small section is done. There is quite a bit to go.

photo courtesy of Chris Bouldin, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic

Update: Roof and Ceiling

The roof on the East face of the South transept is nearing completion.

The first square in the Chapel's new stamped tin ceiling is test fit.

Update: South Transept Roof

Update: South Transept roof

Update: Roof over south transept

The copper roof is going on quickly. Progress on the "flat" roof is faster because the shingles do not need to be cut to fit on a cone-shaped spire.

The "flat" part of the Roof

Our roofers are under attack! Angry wasps are buzzing around the roofers atop their crane. A developer is tearing down a nearby building. The dust and noise are tolerable, but the displaced wasps aren't. The wasps have found their way to the three spires and the workers installing the roof.


Work has begun on what we call the "flat" part of the roof. All the aluminum shingles over the nave, transepts and apse are coming down. Roofers lay new tar paper and are now nailing more copper shingles over the south transept.

Work on the Chapel's new ceiling begins

Canned lights swing on their cables over a few ladders and some cutting equipment. Everything in the Chapel is coated in a fine white powder, the residue from last week's removal of the drop ceiling.

We should see the frame of the new ceiling in a few days.

Update: Chapel

The Chapel's ceiling is gone. All of the tiles are in a dumpster between the church and the school.






The Chapel looks different, of course. The altar, pulpit, pews, chairs, statues, paintings, and stations of the cross are stored somewhere else.




The tabernacle is securely mounted to the wall. It is wrapped in plastic. It goes without saying that the Blessed Sacrament was transferred out of it.

Chapel of Peace gets some attention

[Click on the photos to see a larger version.]

The Chapel of Peace, downtown Tulsa's quiet place of prayer, is not as peaceful today as it usually is. It is getting a new ceiling. Here are some photos of the chapel without its old "drop ceiling."

Sunrise

These photos capture the rays of the rising sun highlighting the new copper roof.

South Transept Roof prepared for Copper

Roofers are removing the aluminum shingles over the South Transept. They are preparing the roof to receive its shiny new copper.

[This photo was taken at dawn so it is a little overexposed. Better photos will follow.]

Fundraising Goals outlined

The Renovation is moving along nicely. To make sure it keeps moving, Holy Family is conducting a fundraising campaign. The goals of the campaign are outlined on the main parish website. Click on the image below to go directly to it.

The Organ is Back

The organ tuners finished their work yesterday. Although the organ is tuned regularly, it was especially in need of attention following the renovation work in the choir loft. In the above photo, Cathedral Organist Ernest Neal is playing some Mendelssohn.

Something for the History Buffs

This blog usually focuses on the day-to-day changes regarding the current renovation.


If you are even mildly interested in the early history of Catholicism in Tulsa, you will probably enjoy reading this booklet: Holy Family Church, Tulsa, Indian Territory. It is a compilation of narratives from two early pastors of Holy Family Church in Tulsa. Fathers Charles Van Hulse and John Heiring recall the significant moments in the first 24 years of parish history.


There is almost no editing of the priests' words. Every figure of speech is preserved. Plus there are some fun photographs too.


If you enjoyed reading this booklet, leave a comment. If there is enough demand for it, we may see the series continue.