St. Luke's future brightens

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Cannelton has unveiled its new Web site, www.stlukes.indydio.org.

This Web site has been set up by members of the congregation and hosted at no charge by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. It features a brief history of the church building, pictures of the structure and a bit about the congregation members that frequent there.

In time, the congregation hopes to add information from old articles and church record books to make it an easy source for genealogical studies. That work will be completed as time allows, as all of this is done on a voluntary basis.

On the home page of the site, there is a picture of the newly repaired church.

Thanks to donations given by the community - and to an insurance check for wind damage to the siding which required use of a hydraulic lift to repair - the vestry members gave the go-ahead for repair to the belfry section of the church roof.

Ably repaired by Ettensohn & Co. of Tell City, the belfry portion of the church is now free from holes and leaks. The remainder of the church roof is still in need of replacement, but funds are not yet available for that project.

The belfry roof repair was authorized when the congregation realized that repair of the siding, an insurance-covered repair, would require a hydraulic lift for completion. With the lift already in place, common sense dictated that the portion of the church roof that would also require its use be fixed as well.

The repairs complete on the historic building included replacing and repairing vinyl siding on four sides of the bell tower, priming and painting the lower metal flashing and deck area on the middle section roof of the tower, and removing a roof access opening on the upper level tower roof, permanently sealing the opening with new materials and covering it with new shingles.

These repairs effectively sealed the bell tower section of the church from inclement weather.

All of this could not have been completed without the generous donations businesses and members of the community who realize the necessity of preserving history. In addition to those mentioned in previous columns, the congregation thanks the following mentioned for their monetary assistance in preserving this Pre-Civil War structure.

Deepest gratitude is extended to: from Cannelton, Finley's Antiques and Custom Framing, Melvin and Marilyn Rhodes, Freewill Baptist Church and Ruth Godthaab.

From Tell City, Franchville Insurance and Advertising Specialties, Celebrations and Ralph Reed.

From Ferdinand, Best Chairs and Universal Design Associates.

From Rockport, Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

A special thank you is extended to G&R Storage Solutions of Cannelton for the year's use of a storage unit for church supplies.

Because of the generosity of these individuals and businesses, the repair fund has over $1,000 to put toward replacement of shingles on the church roof. The congregation is hoping the roof will hold out until the remainder needed, more than $12,000, can be raised.

So far, applications for grants have been turned down due to laws on the separation of church and state. St. Luke's is not eligible for funds from the state or national Historic Preservation Services even though it is on the National Historic Registry. Requests for donations go unanswered in most cases, as more than 500 letters were sent to area businesses requesting monetary assistance.

There were a total of 33 individuals and businesses who sent donations, some of these not because of a letter, but because of articles they saw in newspapers. It's not too late to help preserve the oldest building in Cannelton. Donations may be sent to St. Luke's Repair Fund, P.O. Box 7, Cannelton, IN 47520.

Please include your contact information so that a thank you card with a receipt can be returned to you.

More importantly, the church doors are open to anyone who chooses to attend a service at 10:30 Sunday mornings.

It is hoped services will be held in this wonderful white church on the hill for as long as it stands.

Fischer is clerk of St. Luke's Vestry.