April 20, 2024

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Elegant home interior

Bellevue Church Renovation Progresses but Additional Funds Necessary

The higher scaffolding at the Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue is being dismantled immediately after months of renovation to the historic structure. 

The Catholic church at the corner of Taylor Avenue and Division Road has been undergoing a restoration with substantially required routine maintenance and repairs to a single of Bellevue’s most historic structures. 

The residence of weddings, funerals, gatherings and masses for generations of Bellevue households will be preserved for future generations owing to the effort and hard work to restore and maintain the framework. 

On Dec. 21, the scaffolding was taken off, unveiling the new copper cross and dome at Sacred Heart. 

“The copper steeple is finished,” explained Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves. “The brand-new copper on the church will glisten and will be seen by Christmas.”

“Now we have an concern with the louvres under the clock in the clock tower,” mentioned Cleves. “We are becoming advised to substitute them with copper louvres by the contractor. That way, they will very last a good deal for a longer time and will be significantly less pricey to keep. Of system, there is an expensive upfront value that is not in the spending plan.” 

As progress carries on on substitution of the roof, gutters and flashing (to protect the inside of the church from continued weather conditions damage), far more of the recently restored exterior of the church will expose by itself, with copper gutters and flashing, and roof so new it phone calls the awareness of all parishioners, residents, and passersby. 

Even so, as with any project involving a 100-moreover-year-aged constructing, surprising worries, issues and charges have been encountered. The most pressing of those troubles proper now are the louvres promptly below the four clock faces which need to be fixed and reinstalled. The church has two options: they can be fixed, painted and reinstalled, or repaired, wrapped in copper and reinstalled. 

“The latter choice is greater for so numerous explanations,” mentioned Dave Fessler, the town lawyer who is doing the job with Mayor Cleves to assistance elevate resources for the renovations. “Painting the louvres will clearly involve more mend and portray at common intervals, which suggests continuing expenses.  By distinction, wrapping the louvres in copper will make them upkeep no cost for many years and a long time to occur. 

From an aesthetic viewpoint, the copper on the louvres will offer the steeple with a attractive accent, and insert grandeur to the copper cross and dome like a great necklace.  The copper preference is advocated by the roofing contractor, Imbus, Charlie Cleves who is the Expense Oversight Committee Chairperson, and David Fessler the Money Marketing campaign Chairperson 

“While the selection is apparent, the price is not.” 

Divine Mercy Parish is nonetheless elevating resources for the primary project and other design concerns encountered alongside the way. While they are close, funds nonetheless desires to be raised.  

The copper-wrapped louvres will incorporate an extra $38,000 to the task. The charge is $9,500 for every louvre.  

“Surely this church justifies the toughness and deficiency of typical servicing that copper will supply,” reported Fessler. “Surely Sacred Heart Church must be the most stunning landmark on the horizon.  To make that occur, Divine Mercy Parish requirements you now requires you, in the spirit of Xmas giving, to make a donation that will last for a long time to appear, and for generations right after us to marvel at and enjoy.” 

“Are there 76 folks in our community who will donate $500 to make this materialize?” questioned Cleves. “Are there 38 people in our neighborhood who will donate $1,000 to make this materialize?  We hope and pray so.” 

To make a donation, remember to make checks payable to Divine Mercy Parish. 

Donations can be mailed to Divine Mercy Parish, 318 Division St., Bellevue, Ky. 41073. 

In addition, donations can be designed on-line at https://dmsbcatholic.com/divine-mercy/funds-marketing campaign/ 

“Many people appear to Bellevue to see the church,” said Cleves. “It rewards our whole community, like our corporations.”

“The church is and icon for Bellevue,” claimed Cleves. “It indicates a ton to so several. We have gone by means of wars, economic downturns, and quite a few struggles, but the church has often been there for Bellevue and its folks.” 

-Personnel report

Photo through Town of Bellevue