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Betty Fortney Sanctuary in the Woods
Work began on the outdoor chapel the weekends of August 13 and 20, and is anticipated to wrap up the weekend of August 27.
Funded through donations from St. Mark’s parishioners, the project was completed by an Eagle Scout project. About 20 scouts and adults worked each weekend. They provided their own power-washing equipment, electric sanders, and saws.
St. Mark’s funding provided the paint, stain, treated lumber, concrete, mulch, pea gravel, two additional large seating benches, and additional tools/safety equipment (gloves, paint brushes, etc.), as well as lunches for the three weekends. Some of the work accomplished included the following:
Fence
• Power washing the painted fence behind the altar.
• Repair the middle plank in the fence, pushed it back in place, and reinforced it from behind.
• The fence was then sanded and prepped for painting.
• Fence was painted.
Benches
• Each of the 19 benches were sanded to remove dirt and mildew.
• Benches were treated with two coats of stain.
• The two large seating benches in the back were sanded and will receive two coats of stain.
• Two additional large seating benches were purchased and will be assembled and placed next to the existing
benches.
Altar
• The existing altar was removed, along with the huge rectangular slab of limestone beneath it.
• A frame was built for the concrete base which will support the new altar.
• Rebar support and pea gravel were applied, and concrete was poured to fill the frame.
• The new altar is being built and painted. It will be placed on the concrete support.
• The area around the altar will be leveled out, to provide a smooth and level approach to the altar.
Landscaping
• A great deal of landscape/cleanup work was done.
• All the day lilies and perennials were cut back as the season is over; those gardens were raked out.
• Bags of debris were put in a dumpster.
• The several internal gardens were cleaned out, rocks put neatly back in place and area raked and smoothed out.
• Mulch was applied in preparation for future plantings.
• Some of the ferns from the base of the altar have been transplanted into these gardens.
• The surrounding tree branches were trimmed back around the entire chapel, including behind the fencing.
It was good teamwork. Many scouts and younger children and family members participated. Several skilled adults helped with the landscaping, carpentry and painting. It was a good crew.
Eagle Scout candidate Aiden Lynge organized his team very well and coordinated all the work.
A service is being planned for Sunday, September 24. St. Mark’s Sunday school and Weaver school children are painting stones to decorate the chapel and all are invited
to the service.
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