Since its formation in 1958, preservation of Christ Church has been the primary mission of the Foundation for Historic Christ Church. The Historic Structure Report (1994), authored by Nathaniel P. Neblett, A.I.A., provided the church’s historic background, chronological condition report, existing conditions, and future considerations, most of the last of which had been addressed by 2011. The 2012 Condition Survey by Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects, LLP provides additional updates to findings about the church’s construction history and features a photographic history of the building and its preservation history. It also provides a prioritized list of needed work over the years to come.
The process of preservation is ongoing, planned in multi-year increments, and proceeds according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (2017). Of the four distinct, interrelated approaches to the treatment of historic properties that the Standards define (Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Reconstruction), Christ Church is a preservation project, defined in these standards “as the act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. Work, including preliminary measures to protect and stabilize the property, generally focuses upon the ongoing maintenance and repair of historic materials and features rather than extensive replacement and new construction.” As noted in the Introduction the Standards for Preservation “require retention of the greatest amount of historic fabric along with the building’s historic form.” Learn more about the Standards here: Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring & Reconstructing Historic Buildings (2017)
The Foundation’s preservation strategy is to sustain the church’s original features, details, and materials for as long as possible by utilizing experienced conservators and the highest quality methods and avoiding replacement or reconstruction with modern materials until the deterioration or failure of an original element will cause unacceptable collateral damage. In addition, the policy is that any treatments, repairs or replacements be performed in such a way as to be reversible, when possible.
Leare more about preservation and architectural research projects below:
