John Shearer: Touring Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church Following Exterior Renovation

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Stuart Bickley, left, and Kimberly McNeal

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

photo by John Shearer

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Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church has long tried to help its members and worshipers develop a strong and foundational Christian faith.

But in recent years, officials realized they did not have a foundationally strong building to go along with their mission, even if the attractive stone structure at 316 N. Bragg Ave. looked fine to passersby. Due to years of toll from water and other weather, parts of the walls, roofs, windows, and mortar work had been damaged or needed prompt attention.

As a result, church officials began an exterior restoration project. And after months of being hidden behind quite a bit of scaffolding, the church has reappeared looking similar and fresh, but with better protection and exterior upgrades to battle the future challenges of time and weather. The work, done by the Ohio-based The Tradesmen Group historic renovation firm, involved resolving all the water infiltration issues, and revitalizing the windows, roofing and stonework, officials said.

In an emailed press release, Tradesmen Group marketing representative Kevin Saghy explained the work in a little more detail, saying, “Solutions brought by TTG included complete replacement of the slate roof and copper gutters, extensive removal and reinstallation of stone with new through-wall flashings at slate roof-to-wall intersections, windowsills and water tables, 100 percent tuckpointing of all rubble and architectural cut stone and other water proofing treatments.

“Work also included structural stabilization of the tower stone façade, restoration and replacement of windows, painting of exterior building features, repairs to the copper spire, and extensive interior plaster repairs and painting,” he added.

Stuart Bickley, a church member and contractor who has been the construction manager for the project, said the work was long overdue. “The structure has been maintained and held together with bailing wire and band aids for decades, so it was time,” he said with a laugh.

And while the Presbyterian Church in America-affiliated church was at it, it also realized it needed to better solve the flow of people through the building throughout the week while it was solving the weather-related flow of water coming from the outside. As a result, it has conducted a $17.9 fundraising campaign it has called Renew and that has also included remodeling parts of the interior building and constructing a new building.

“We have grown from a staff of eight in the early 1990s to now having over 30 staff,” said Mr. Bickley. “Most of the staff were in closets built out or sharing multiple offices or working from many other cubby holes. And at the same time, we did a space audit and learned we had wonderful space for children and youth, but not enough for adult teaching and classroom space.”

So, a new staff building designed by Franklin Associates architects is being completed behind the church and is scheduled to be moved into in January. And the interior renovation by T.U. Parks, which has also built the new building, is scheduled to be completed by Easter Sunday (April 20) 2025. The latter work has included creating more adult classrooms, making the chapel into more of a multi-purpose facility, and opening the entrance hall of the church into a larger and more welcoming area. Better windows, better and more user-friendly lighting in the sanctuary, and even a relit tower cross have also been features of the renovation work.

I had toured the church in May 2023 when the initial work was underway, and church and renovation officials recently offered a follow-up tour now that the exterior work has been recently completed.

The old Crab Orchard stone lady is back showing off her attractive adornments after the scaffolding was removed and is more visibly welcoming churchgoers. The outside of this church campus with the original section dating to the late 1920s seems to have a newness it did not before.

“The whole part of the project was to fix the water infiltration issues,” said Mr. Bickley while offering the tour with group project manager Kimberly McNeal of The Tradesmen Group. “We fixed the windows, the roofing, and the masonry. Then we could go in and fix the interior.”

Mr. Bickley, who said the window work was handled by the local Ross Glass firm, described the exterior renovation as almost like putting the building in an envelope of protection.

Ms. McNeal, who began with The Tradesmen Group seven years ago as an administrative assistant, said during the tour that the work was quite enjoyable and rewarding. “I have loved this group because they have so many trades on the project,” she said, adding that some of the skilled workers, who have lived in places around town rented out by her firm, have multiple skillsets.

“And we have really enjoyed working with the church. They have been a stellar client. The project has been a challenging one (due to trying to fix the water infiltration problems and other renovation issues), but a very successful one.”

Mr. Bickley was quick to praise the work of The Tradesmen Group, an employee-owned firm. He said they finished what church officials called quality renovation work on time and under budget, but they are also leaving behind instructions to help the church in the future.

“The handoff is going to be a manual on how to maintain it,” said Mr. Bickley, adding that this even includes the paint colors used. “We’re going to be equipped to better maintain the building.”

One small-but-longtime feature of the church campus they were unable to preserve, though, was the mature silver maple tree in the middle of the back courtyard. Due to its poor health in places and new landscaping recently put up around the church, officials decided it might be best to cut it down. However, it will also have its own renewal to go along with the theme of all the work, as its wood is being preserved to use in furniture or adornments for the church, Mr. Bickley added.

Overall, though, he said he has been pleased with the work and is glad to be a part of it.

“Being a member of this body for multiple decades, what excites me the most is the new capacity we have to feed our people and exercise our gifts,” he said. “We will be better equipped to serve more holistically our community and beyond.”

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To see a previous story from May 2023 when the church’s renovation was just underway, read here.

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2023/5/13/468971/John-Shearer-Checking-Out-Restoration.aspx