Lexington Presbyterian Church
On July 18, 2000, a fire accidentally started by a paint stripper devastated the historic Lexington Presbyterian
Church in Lexington, VA, a college town 140 miles west of Richmond. The church is famous for its design by Thomas U.
Walter, architect of the US Capitol dome and the House and Senate wings. His gothic-inspired church had become a beloved
icon in the small town and its loss was unimaginable.
Three months after the fire destroyed much of the original sanctuary, the congregation hired Train & Partners to spearhead
a multi-million dollar restoration.
Train & Partners' design team – working without any original drawings because none existed – researched the
building's history, measured what remained of it, recommended measures to conserve it, and drew the documents necessary
to rebuild it. Architects found clues of the original church within the wreckage; fortunately, portions of the interior trim
were salvaged. Recreating the roof, steeple, and ceiling became the greatest challenge of the project. All that remained
of the steeple were the damaged copper finial, a trace of caulk and some paint.
Amazingly, a wedding video shot earlier in the summer provided important clues in reconstructing the ceiling's
decorative sunken panel – just one example of the extensive research and analysis of the historical
and photographic record the project required.
In March 2002, local children given the day off from school cheered as a crew lifted the new steeple into place.
The interior restoration continued through the summer and fall of 2002. By November, the project was complete and
a celebration of the new sanctuary took place in January, 2003.
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