By Zach Jensen,
Decorah First United Methodist Church recently announced the completion of its “Solid Walls, Open Doors” capital campaign, during which parishioners raised $500,000 to pay for repairs to the church’s limestone windowsills, its limestone foundation and mortar — especially on the east exterior wall. If left unrepaired, the church’s board of trustees said the deteriorating areas of the building posed a long-term threat to the structural stability of the main building and sanctuary.
The church’s capital campaign was launched in 2023, and restoration work on the building was completed last month.
“Over the last 10 years, we were aware there was some damage to the roof,” said board of trustees member Drew Pellet. “Then, COVID came, and we didn’t think that was a good time for a fundraiser. And, then we had a change in ministers, so there were a number of different factors that prevented us from getting it done sooner.”
The church contracted with the award-winning Building Restoration Corporation of Roseville, Minnesota, to perform the repairs. At the same time, Pellet said some parishioners suggested the church install solar panels to help offset some of its electricity costs. Because the church’s roof is slate, Pellet said the solar panels were installed on the building’s education wing.
“That was built in the 1960s,” he said. “That makes it much more conducive for mounting the solar panels.”
The restoration project also included the replacement of the church’s capstones — 27 in all — around the building’s exterior. Crews also helped further protect the limestone foundation by installing a band of metal around the base of the church. Pellet said the congregation is still raising $20,000 to cover the cost of restoring the capstones.
The original bid for the restoration project was $440,000, but the congregation raised $500,000 to be safe. Pellet said that, with the recent work completed, the congregation expects the church to last another 150 years.
“The parishioners were real generous,” he said.
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I can understand COVID being a bad tiime for raising funds, but WHY would changing ministers have anything to do with it or is that an excuse for putting if off. It looks good. Did the roof get repaired??