Correspondent photo / Bill Koch
Canfield Presbyterian Church has been stripped in preparation for renovations. The sanctuary renovation committee includes, from left, Rev. Larry Bowald, Darlene Strasser, Pat Purser, David Goddard and Matt Moore.

CANFIELD — Canfield Presbyterian Church’s 120-year old building has undergone big changes recently, and an even bigger transformation is coming.

Canfield resident Pat Purser, co-chair of the sanctuary renovation committee, said the committee was formed two years ago to address structural and safety concerns. However, asbestos in the ceiling underneath the sanctuary set off a chain reaction that culminated in renovations to Westminster Hall, a new and more efficient HVAC system, and painting, new furniture and carpeting for the preschool classrooms.

This work has been completed and now they are turning back to the sanctuary. On May 18, the congregation voted to authorize the committee to spend up to $2.3 million for a project that will be overseen by Murphy Contracting Company in Youngstown. Over the past few weeks, the organ has been disassembled, pews have been moved out, and stained glass has been packed away.

Almost $2 million will go toward needed infrastructure, including stabilizing a damaged wall and replacing decayed beams. The plaster will be ripped down to the studs in order to update the electricity, as the knob and tube wiring from the 1920’s may be a fire hazard.

Beyond that, they can only guess what will be found.

“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Purser said.

Because they will be starting from scratch, the committee decided to make other improvements. They will bring audiovisual equipment up to 21st century standards with enhanced lighting and sound as well as better capacity for live streaming.

At the same time, the congregation indicated they want the aesthetics to reflect an Early American look. Besides painting, flooring and new pews, dark wainscotting will match the ceiling. Purser said this is consistent with the original intent to resemble the inside of an ark.

Since the organ had to be professionally removed from the sanctuary, the church additionally decided this was an opportunity for service on the 934 pipes.

Although the console was brought over from the former Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church after it merged with Canfield Presbyterian Chuch in 2016, the rest of the organ was installed in the 1980s and was overdue for maintenance.

Services will continue at the church, either in the Christman Room, fellowship hall or the outside pavilion, until the project is finished. They are hoping to be back in the sanctuary next Easter.

Purser said although this undertaking will be expensive and inconvenient, they are looking toward the future.

“The church has served us very well,” Purser said. “Our job is to bring it up to date and make it viable for the next hundred years for those who come after us.”