New Nave & Classrooms Dedicated
at St. Timothy's, Signal Mountain

by Jennie Storey
Five years of planning and more than a year of construction culminated in a glorious festival service Sunday, September 17, when St. Timothy's, Signal Mountain, consecrated and dedicated its new 400-seat church and a lower floor of eight classrooms.

The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg, Bishop of East Tennessee, inscribed the sign of the cross on the threshold of the new church to formally begin the consecration of the new building. The First Bishop of East Tennessee, William E. Sanders, now retired, was also present to take part in the service. Between them the two bishops blessed font, altar and pulpit before Bishop vonRosenberg celebrated the first Holy Eucharist in the new worship space. St. Timothy's rector, the Rev. David R. Hackett, preached the sermon. Associate Rector Patricia Templeton acknowledged parishioners who had taken leading roles in the building campaign and on the building design committee.

Also taking part in the 4:00 p.m. service were the Senior Warden, Dr. William E. McGee; Chairman of the Building for Ministry and Building Designs committees, Bob McKenzie; and members of the congregation who processed with liturgical vessels and furnishings to adorn altar and pulpit. Both adult and children's choirs, 60 voices strong, led congregational singing and offered special music, accompanied by organ, timpani, handbells, and brass quintet.

Following the service, the congregation and guests celebrated at a party with barbecue, balloons and band, gathered under large tents set up on the church lawn.

Together, church and classrooms encompass 11,600 square feet. Both interior and exterior of the church are enhanced with mountain stone accents to blend with the original stone church St. Timothy's built in 1954 and expanded in 1987. The previous church has been divided by a wood and glass wall into an 80-seat chapel and a large narthex leading to the new church.

A soaring wood ceiling is a prominent feature of the church's interior. Among the unique features are the font, hewed from a large mountain sandstone; the altar, which is a 7-foot sandstone slab resting on a light, curved frame of cherry; and the 8-foot rose window (the first of a planned series of windows) depicting the radiating energy of God the Creator. A brass Jerusalem cross is inlaid in dark green porcelain tile under the crossing of nave and transepts, and a Santa Rosa© meditation labyrinth (a variation on the Chartres pattern) is featured in the carpet in the narthex.

Earth colors, local materials, and Tennessee builders and craftmen were chosen when possible for the facility. The architect was Frank McDonald and Associates, and the contractor was Raines Brothers, Inc., both of Chattanooga. The woodwork of the liturgical furniture (altar base and platform, pulpit and font base) was designed and crafted by Hiwassee Manufacturing of Madisonville, Tenn. Steven Nelligan of Chattanooga made the stone font and Walter Tollett of McMinnville quarried the altar slab. The rose window was designed and made by Dennis Harmon of Emmanuel Stained Glass Studios in Nashville.

The theme of the building program has been "Building for Ministry," and so it was fitting that the first persons to use the new facility, even before dedication, were four homeless families St. Timothy's housed in the new classrooms as part of its participation in Chattanooga's Interfaith Hospitality Network. On a rotating schedule, members of this consortium of area churches provide a week of housing and care for homeless families, who work with the services of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen during the day to find jobs, permanent housing and other assistance to rebuild their lives.

With some 900 communicants, St. Timothy's size and growth have pressed existing facilities for some years now. Three morning services were required in the old church of fewer than 200 seats. The congregation now looks forward to being together in one major Sunday morning service, supplemented by the usual early morning Eucharist in the chapel. The parish's full attention will now return to the goals of the building expansion: worship, education, mission and service.

Jennie Storey is a member, St. Timothy’s parish, Signal Mountain.