Restoration Journal

The All Saints' comprehensive restoration project has been recognized by the historic preservation community with two awards – one from Preservation Massachusetts, and one from the Boston Preservation Alliance.

July 2015's The Diapason magazine features an extended article by organ restorer and All Saints' parishioner, Jonathan Ambrosino, on the restoration of Skinner Organ Company's Opus 708 (1929) as the church's new chancel organ. A beautiful photo of the restored chancel and organ facade graces the cover of the issue, the text of which can be read on the magazine's website.

The Parish of All Saints was the focus of an architectural tour, hosted by Saint Mark’s Area Main Streets (SMAMS) as part of Historic Preservation Month. 

The Ashmont Skinner is nearing completion. This project, primarily undertaken by Joe Sloane and Jonathan Ortloff, with guidance and management from Jonathan Ambrosino, began in the fall of 2013. The team expects the organ will make its first sounds in early May

September update on Goodhue's Window

The last major stained glass window to be restored is the 1896 Adoration by Kings and Shepherds by Harry Eldredge Goodhue and manufactured in the studio of the firm Phipps, Slocum & Co. Like the architects' window, it constructed of layered or "plated" opalescent glass.

To the starting line

As the building restoration nears completion, the installation of Skinner Opus 708 is cued up for installation

Phase 2: the pace heats up

Phase II of the All Saints' building restoration is well underway and the project is headed toward completion in early Winter.

The work of restoring the fabric of the Parish of All Saints' was broken into roughly two parts so that the first phase could commence before design work for the second phase was complete. Phase I, which is largely complete, addressed the building envelope, including the roof systems, the masonry, and the windows.

Each week a short update is printed in the Sunday bulletin so that parishioners are apprised of the status of the building restoration work, what has been finished in the preceding week, what is still in progress, and what to expect in the coming week.

The scaffolding begins to give way

The massive granite blocks of the All Saints' bell tower give an appearance of agelessness and permanency. It can seem as though the church will always stand ready to receive us in the time of our spiritual need, when we baptize a child, when we take a spouse, at the time of our funeral mass, and Sunday by Sunday throughout our lives.

The very first work on the restoration was completed in November and December. Scaffolding was erected along the church's side aisles and the Lady Chapel, as well as by the tower and on the Lombard Street side of the building. The badly damaged slate on the aisle roofs and above the organ chamber were removed, as was the metal roof of the Lady Chapel.