capital campaign
In 2025, the parish family of St. Paul’s by the Sea committed over $3.2 Million to the Building Tomorrow Together campaign. If you have not yet made your commitment – it is not too late! Additional commitments can be made at any time over the next three years.
PROJECT STATUS
| Project Priority | Status |
| 1 – Replace HVAC | 3 new 15 ton units have been successfully installed for the sanctuary and we have seen a reduction in our monthly cooling/heating costs of almost $1000. |
| 2 – Repair the organ | The organ was disassembled in May of 2025 and the components were shipped to the vendor facility in Georgia where restoration and repairs are well underway. We are hopeful the organ components will be reinstalled in late Spring of 2026. |
| 3 – Stormes Complex Renovation |
The first two statements of work are nearing completion with our vendor NEFCON. This work included all the architectural design and engineering (i.e. plumbing, mechanical and electrical) along with the demolition of the classroom wings and interior demolition of the middle section and the parish hall. We are currently working with NEFCON to finalize the most exciting scope of work which is the renovation of the middle section and the parish hall. We expect this work to begin in February and conclude in the Fall. |
| 4 – Demolition of Buildings | The two outbuildings – which were no longer financially feasible to repair – were demolished in the summer of 2025 providing us with a new opportunity to envision potential uses for that space. A group has been formed to develop a vision for this and other parts of our campus including the former school library. |
We will continue to keep you updated on our campaign and THANK YOU for your prayers, financial commitments and ongoing support as we continue Building Tomorrow Together.
In 1956, the Stormes Complex with Parish Day school was built on land donated by the Stormes family. As the congregation continued to grow, the magnificent and architecturally significant sanctuary was constructed and the first service was held on Easter Sunday, April 30, 1967.
We surveyed the parish and you gave us three priorities for a capital campaign:
Repair/replace our HVAC systems in the sanctuary
It is essential that our sanctuary is properly heated and cooled and a welcoming space for our church family and newcomers alike. We have three separate HVAC units and will be replacing all three (exterior compressors and interior air handlers) with new Trane 15 ton systems for an estimated cost of $200,000 inclusive of a special coating on the exterior components to aid in protecting the coils.
Repair our organ
Our music ministry is a foundational element of our worship service and we must maintain and build upon it by repairing our organ. The cost for repairing the organ is $307,000. A contract has been signed with A.E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company to initiate this work and the first payment has been made. The organ will be removed piece by piece and transported to the company’s facility in Georgia for this project. It will then be reinstalled and tuned in our sanctuary at completion. This is complicated and delicate work and it cannot be accomplished with the unit in place. The organ will be out of service for about 7-8 months during which a temporary digital organ will be installed at no additional charge. Learn more about our organ restoration.
Renovate the Parish Hall and the middle section of the Stormes Complex
The Parish Hall has been a cornerstone of the fellowship and sense of community we feel at St. Paul’s by the Sea. We want to invest in the renewal of the Stormes Complex and the money raised will be used for renovation:
- The Parish Hall with have refurbished terrazzo floors, new lighting, new energy efficient windows, exposed vaulted ceiling, removal of the stage and creation of larger and more accessible storage areas. We will also be installing a new fire suppression system.
- The middle section which today includes the lobby, the kitchen and common room, the Beaches Fine Arts offices and the Foundation office. This area will be renovated with an expanded lobby, a new kitchen layout with all new equipment, renovated ladies and men’s restrooms and the addition of two new family bathrooms, new meetings spaces and a new fire suppression system. New Luxury Vinyl flooring will be installed throughout the middle section although the kitchen will have epoxy flooring and the bathrooms will have tile flooring. We will also be stabilizing the foundation under the middle section and the kitchen.
- The total for the renovation of the middle section and the parish hall is $1.6M.
FAQS
Why are we doing this now?
How much do we need to raise?
Funds raised during this phase of the campaign will be allocated in priority order.
We anticipate future campaigns to implement the full Facility Site Plan.
What are the priorities and objectives for the project?
After working with all the ministry leads and conducting a survey of our parish family, you gave us three priorities which are included in the initial project scope:
1. Repair/replace the A/C in the Sanctuary
2. Repair the organ
3. Renovate the Parish Hall and the middle section of the Stormes Complex
How can I/we help?
Pray for this project and your role in it, participate in conversations, give generously and sacrificially, and ask questions of the people who can answer them! The leadership of this campaign Alan Ennis and Anne Simpson are eager to answer your questions. Your participation is vital to our future!
The Parish Hall has been key to the fellowship and sense of community we feel at St. Paul’s by the Sea. We want to invest in the renewal of the Stormes Complex and the project will focus on the Parish Hall and the middle section for renovation of the entry, lobby and the kitchen. Renovating this space will make it more appealing and attractive to newcomers and support the growth of our church.
How will we use our renovated facilities to meet God’s call?
Buildings don’t reach people, we do! Our buildings and facilities have always been, and will continue to be a tool for us to use in carrying out our mission. It is essential that our sanctuary is properly heated and cooled and a welcoming space for our church family and newcomers alike. Our music ministry is a foundational element of our worship service and we must maintain and build upon it by repairing our organ.
The Parish Hall has been key to the fellowship and sense of community we feel at St. Paul’s by the Sea. We want to invest in the renewal of the Stormes Complex and the project will focus on the Parish Hall and the middle section for renovation of the
entry, lobby and the kitchen. Renovating this space will make it more appealing and attractive to newcomers and support the growth of our church.
How is the campaign organized?
We have two campaign co-chairs – Alan Ennis and Anne Simpson. We have a number of sub-teams working in areas including prayer, celebration, advance commitments, and communication, etc.
- We worked with Richard Rogers of Horizon Consulting to help organize and guide our fundraising efforts. Subsequently, a capital campaign committee was formed to help select the construction company, negotiate contract terms, define scopes of work and work with our vendors to guide and manage the work.
- Additionally, a kitchen committee was formed and worked to design the new kitchen and a design committee was established as well to determine fixtures and finishes.
- The fund-raising portion of the campaign officially concluded in mid-summer of 2025 with over $3.1M in commitments. We welcome and are grateful for any additional commitments that continue to be made. The Capital Campaign moved from fundraising to execution which as we’ve noted on the project status above is well underway and expected to conclude in the Fall of 2026.
