Work on Christ Church’s doors commenced in the fall of 2000. The project was the first in a broader preservation campaign planned for 2001-2004 that included the windows, entablature, and Carter tombs.
Doorways stand on three sides of Christ Church: the west, north and south (the altar faces the east side). On the west side, the principal entrance to the building, the doors are pine and appear to date from the late nineteenth century. The north and south side doors, however, are original and made of black walnut. Though all of them have been repaired on numerous occasions over the life of the building, the Foundation determined in 2000 that a more comprehensive preservation treatment would best ensure their long-term survival.
Conservators from Tidewater Preservation, Inc., in Fredericksburg, Virginia began the project by removing the doors and transporting them back to their workshop. The empty spaces framing them were then sealed up, and a small door was cut into the seal on the south side to provide access to the church.
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A small door cut into the seal on the south side allowed entry to the church during preservation work on the doors. |
