Featured Renovation Projects

ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION

St. Mary of the Assumption in String Prairie, TX completed an expansion and renovation of the historic church. This beautiful country mission parish was built by parishioners from local resources and completed in 1900. Despite losing its steeple and belfry just a few years later, the church continued to stand, largely hidden from major traffic corridors and unknown to most but locals, for well more than a century. It had weathered a number of practical modifications, including a 1960s sacristy addition behind the apse and a more recent narthex addition that obscured the original front entry. Initial plans for the expansion and restoration called for a substantial increase in seating to just under 300 to accommodate a number of growing families, as well as additional restrooms and new confessional. A cruciform arrangement allowed two bays of interior wood-framed nave expansion by pushing the sanctuary further back and completely rebuilding the apse sacristies back with restrooms and side entries.

The steeple was restored similar to its original appearance, along with two historic bells and the original rose window, which had been removed years prior and stored in the attic. Careful placement of historic and new windows allowed the expansion to appear less noticeable than otherwise. Original oak hardwood floors were restored and matched with salvaged wood from a nearby historic barn. Pilasters, columns, window frames, spindles, and other trim details were painstakingly reincorporated so that, as much as possible, the entire building would integrate as a whole. Sacristy millwork was built in a shop a mile from the church from local hardwood. A simple solid-color paint scheme was rediscovered during historic paint analysis and reincorporated into the scheme as well. The original high altar and side altars (now reredos and votive shrines) were restored through re-painting and re-application of gold leaf. In total, the changes to the historic structure delicately balance a respect for historic conditions with accommodation of modern building codes and practical functional usage. Visiting the church today – between Bastrop and Gonzalez TX – is truly a community and family affair.

Completed October 2019, Dedicated December 14, 2019 with JGA (FGM Architects)