Bible school's students work to build chapel, faith

Children at St. Thomas Episcopal Church put together a child-size chapel for a transitional residential program.

By LENNIE BENNETT

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 19, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Vacation Bible School at St. Thomas Episcopal Church was, one could say, constructive.

Students in the program built a 96-square-foot children's chapel they are donating to the children who live at Resurrection House, a transitional residential program for homeless families.

"It's the first time we've done this," said Cynda Mort, director of Christian formation at the church, 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. "We wanted to do an outreach project and get the kids involved."

Mort, who is also employed by the St. Petersburg Times as a part-time copy editor, and the Rev. Kathy Ryan wrote the course, called Hardhats for Heaven, using tools of the trade and construction terms as metaphors for faith.

"The idea was to build their relationship with Christ while they actually built the chapel," Mort said.

The tie-in with Resurrection House was natural because St. Thomas has worked for years assisting the agency.

"We've had such a wonderful relationship with the church," said Cynthia Sinclair, president of Resurrection House, who added that church members teach a monthly life skills class, help with back-to-school needs and throw the annual Christmas party for the families, who stay at Resurrection House for up to two years. "The chapel is so neat."

"There are a lot of packaged programs for vacation Bible school," said the Rev. Chris Thompson, rector of St. Thomas Church. "We wanted something particular to the parish, to involve people, using their creativity to create an enduring reality."

St. Thomas Chapel, as it has been named, was designed by architect Blanchard Jolly of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe. The firm's credits include The Pier and the proposed addition for the Museum of Fine Arts. The 8- by 12-foot wooden structure has an American Gothic look, with arched windows and grooved paneling. Parishioner Walter Jaap built a small altar and four benches for the interior. Irwin Construction donated materials and architect Lee Harvard oversaw the chapel construction, writing a schedule that deployed the 73 children, ages 3 to 11, to suitable tasks.

The weeklong program was divided into Laying the Foundation, Building the Frame, Painting the Walls, Assembling the Walls and Raising the Roof. With adult volunteers doing the hardest work, students hammered, glued and painted. In between construction duties, they played games, learned Bible verses and songs and created arts projects, staples of the more traditional vacation Bible school programs.

On Friday, the last day of school, students watched as about 20 adults hoisted the pitched roof onto the structure.

The children clustered around the chapel surveying their work and chattering with excitement.

"I painted this whole window," said Brittany Chesnutt, 10.

Tyler Cook, 10, said he hammered his hand occasionally instead of a nail, but added, "It didn't hurt."

"We're happy we're giving it to people who really need it," said Sam Given, 9. "It'll help the kids."

It is scheduled to be moved to its new site at Resurrection House this week.

Lauren Maguire, 8, had more reason than most to be proud. "I painted and nailed," she said. "And I live with my family at Resurrection House, so we'll get to use it, too."

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