Patronato ' s Conservation Committee examine the installation of the basalt rope bond beam and webbing used to stabilize the top of the tower . Patranato San Xavier
Tower . Due to a sudden stop in the church ’ s construction in 1797 , the East Tower was never finished . Both the dome and lantern featured on the West Tower were never added on the East Tower . Perhaps most significantly , the upper levels were left unplastered until the 20th century , leaving the adobe walls exposed to the harsh weathering elements of the Sonoran Desert . With $ 250,000 in support from the National Fund , along with $ 500,000 in matching funds raised by Patranato and the parish , Patranato was able to take measures to conserve the tower and ensure the safety of visitors to the site .
To begin , conservators worked on site to remove delaminated layers of Portland cement applied in the mid-twentieth century — a material that is incompatible with the underlying adobe . Once the adobe walls were repaired , the tower was refinished with a lime-based plaster infused with cactus — a local craft tradition . To add stability , a basalt rope bond beam and webbing was installed . In alignment with the site ’ s conservation principles , extra caution was taken throughout the project to preserve the unique profiles and irregularities created by the original craftsmen . Through the conservation team ’ s deep contextual understanding of the site and the ingenuity of local materials , the East Tower was conserved in a way that brought unity to the greater ensemble while respecting the existing character .
For the first time in six years , the congregation can return to a church facade free of scaffolding and safety barriers . In reflecting on the campaign process , Patranato shared that the grant provided through the National Fund was able to reignite support from local stakeholders and cultivate energetic momentum for future conservation efforts . Miles Green , Executive Director of Patranato , said of the project , “ With the iconic East Tower at the Mission now stabilized and repaired , we have new impetus moving forward with other core projects on the Mission site .”
Lovely Lane United Methodist Church , Baltimore , Maryland
Amidst a streetscape of rowhomes , the massive stone tower of Lovely Lane UMC undoubtedly catches the eyes of everyone walking by . Designed by Stanford White , Lovely Lane is one of the only Romanesque churches completed by the renowned architecture firm of McKim , Mead , and White . Today , Lovely Lane
The first Easter service following the restoration work at San Xavier . Martin DeSoto
Baltimore Folk Music Society dancers enjoying Lovely Lane UMC ’ s Fellowship Hall . Rev . Deb Scott
boasts a history as monumental as its tower , and has proven to be a cultural anchor in its home of Baltimore and beyond .
The history of Lovely Lane dates back to both the founding of the nation and the formation of the Methodist denomination in America . The congregation was first established in 1772 as a part
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