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SPIREBLOG 2 - JANUARY - JUNE 2007

 

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E-mail: dean@belfastcathedral.org

June 6 - First view from inside Cathedral
This afternoon we had the first view of The Spire of Hope from the interior of the Cathedral. Magnificent even with the final section of wooden cladding still to be added. The steel fins were almost invisible to the naked eye and the Spire appeared to float over the building.We cannot say - inspirational! Please do come and see it for yourself. A The Spire was also the be floodlit for the first time tonight.

May 30 - During the intervening weeks
Due to inclement weather work on finishing off the Spire has been held up by about a week. Slates which were obtained from a derelict church in England and matching those of the Cathedral and are being used to cover the extended tower at the base of the Spire. The tower wall had to be heightened to hide the lights which will illuminate the Spire. The sides of the "tunnel" down through which the Spire will pass into the cathedral - four sides of 20 feet by 30 feet - have still to be erected by riggers. Only then will we be able to take down the safety net and admire the spire through the glass base as it reaches up to the heavens. That and the first use of illumination at night are the next two stages which we await with interest.

April 23 - Raising of remainder of the Spire of Hope.

Despite the overcast skies there was a tremendous air of festivity at the West front of the Cathedral, in Writers' Square across Donegall Street and in Talbot Street alongside the Cathedral. parishioners, workers from the city, friends, and tourists were prepared to stay no matter how long it took to see the Spire being lifted into place.

The weather was not as good as on April 12, but the day enjoyed almost no wind at all which was of immense benefit to the crane operators. Three large cranes dominated the scene. A mighty monster from Dublin was needed to lift the 35 tons of stainless steel used in the construction of the upper section of the Spire of Hope. A second crane was needed simply to lift the ballast weights on to the crane, and the large crane used to lift the lower section of the Spire was used to hoist the riggers aloft to ease the base of the Spire through the cover on the roof of the Cathedral and later to lift the riggers two thirds of the way up the Spire to remove the fixture essential for the lift.

The guys from the media were there in strength, and the story was included in every major news bulletin on television and radio - even making the road traffic reports due to the machinery and transport constricting traffic flow in Donegall Street. And it was managed without a traffic warden or police officer in sight all day.

By mid afternoon the Spire of Hope was in place, and the sun obliged by lighting up the new structure for a short while.

Once again it was a tremendous team effort by all the professionals and operatives involved. It is a great team with wonderful sunergy and friendships.

Four weeks hard work lies ahead, finishing the panelling around the spire base where it enters the Cathedral, raising the tower around the exit point of the Spire, cladding with stainless steel the joint between the two parts of the spire, hoisting and locating four massive glass panels, and finally reclading the extended tower base exterior with slates especially sourced from an old church in England, to match the existing slates on the tower base. The first public viewing of the Spire from the interior of the Cathedral is scheduled for Saturday, June 2.

April 16 - Remainder of Spire arrives from Switzerland.
The remainder of the Spire arrived and blocked Talbot Street whilst a two crane operation lifted the two parts over the railings around the Cathedral precincts. There is a magnificent photo in the gallery of this operation taken from the roof of the Chapel of Unity. It gives a further idea of the scale of the project. Another temporary shelter to permit welding to proceed is being erected.

APRIL 12 - AN EXCELLENT EASTER EXERCISE
On the Thursday of Easter week, 12th April, a crowd gathered around the Cathedral to see the lower part of the Spire of Hope being lifted into place. It was a long day. Firstly a considerable amount of material had to be removed from the “roof space”. This area is about three storeys high. Flooring and girders from there had to be lowered to ground level. These had to be removed from the area down through which the base of the Spire of Hope would enter the Cathedral interior.Then welding equipment and other resources had to be lifted on to the roof area. Two massive cranes, a flat bed which carried ballast for the larger crane and a “cherrypicker” lift filled the car park. There was little room left in the Talbot Street car park.

The actual work on the Spire started when the framework on which the fins had been located was removed. Then the entire lower section of the spire - about 45 feet in height - had to be turned so that the fins were at the top of the section for the final lift. A massive round girder with flanges at each end had been made especially for the next move and brought all the way from Switzerland. This round girder had to be bolted to the top of the section above the fins by two engineers working from the cherrypicker. To this girder the straps from the large cane were attached for the final lift. However, this could not start until a circular fixture around the cone of the spire had been removed. It was reluctant to budge and it is somewhat reassuring that even in this age of computer assisted design and hi tech planning, a sledge hammer was produced to remove a component which had played its part and was no longer necessary.

The protective wrapping of the base of the spire was removed and the sight of the excellent finish of the stainless steel reflecting the sunlight on what was one of the most magnificent of sunny days was almost biblical. The base cone of the spire literally glittered. It became like a shaft of light from heaven to earth.

Then it was hold your breath time for one of the most unique sights in the history of the Cathedral and the city, as the fins and base cone were elevated and raised higher than the Chapel of Unity, and higher even yet, before being swung out over the walls of the green shelter on the roof of the Cathedral to a point where the top of the fins were at a height of some 70 feet above the Cathedral roof. The base cone of the spire was lowered into place, the four corners of the fins were set accurately alongside the pencil marks on the girders around the square opening in the roof. The base penetrated the gap in the canvas across the opening above the choir and there it was, the first major part of the concept was reality.

Initial impressions of the base of the spire in the Cathedral is that the concern that it would not detract from the arches over the sanctuary when viewed from the west doors has been well met. The appearance is subtle. However, as one walks towards the sanctuary from about the state pews forward, the spire will be gradually revealed. Indeed on sunny days it s highly likely that communicants will walk ‘in the light’ as they procede to make their communion.

There was evident a tremendous amount of team work and for that full credit to Ken Patterson for bringing together and focussing such a range of talent and evoking such commitment. All the companies and practices which are involved were better than well represented on the day. Indeed Colin Conn of Box Architects left hs family on holiday in Italy to make an overnight visit to the Cathedral to see this operation. Three Board members - Phyllis Forster, and John McCallister whose proposal to the Board was the definitive start to this day’s work, and Chris McClaughlin joined the party and everyone complied with the health and safety regulations with colourful safety hats and jackets. The weather was such that a long day’s wait in a car park was enjoyable for the most part. The next and much larger section of the Spire of Hope is scheduled to be raised on Monday 23rd. April. So please lets have focussed prayer that for similar weather conditions.

The service of dedication of the Spire of Hope will take place on the evening of “nine / eleven” - September 11 at 8.00 pm. The message of Hope which the Christian Church and Gospel proclaims is needed at this time not just in our city and community which prayerfully we hope have emerged from dark days, but also globally in a world which is definitely increasingly dangerous and in need of genuine hope in so many countries and areas.

Raising the first part of the Spire of Hope in the very week in which we had celebrated the Resurrection of Christ from the grave of death was not scheduled when the project was planned. But can you think of a more appropriate week for such a major development at the Cathedral? Perhaps God did.

There are some super photos in the gallery in the News section of the web site.

APRIL 11 - READY FOR TOMORROW’S BIG LIFT
The Gang’s all here - the Swiss team has returned, along with James, the men from the Glens and Ballymena, and Anton’s deputy from London. Up rolls a 300 ton crane all the way from Limavady and two flatbeds with loads of ballast for tomorrow’s lift. Donegall Street is constricted somewhat by a convoy which stretches the entire front of the cathedral. However, a group of Cool Hand Luke drivers got the large beasties into the car park and things are looking good for the morning.

The roof space has been vaccumed after the rectangle on the roof of the cathedral was stripped, in order to reduce the amount of dirt which could fall into the choir area and elsewhere (Don’t mention the organ pipes...please. Just pray about it!).

So tonight there is a major hole in the roof of the cathedral with a long drop below it. Prayerfully tomorrow night the base of The Spire of Hope will be in that location and the first major part of theerection on site will have been completed without incident or accident. Best guess for the lift 1100 am.

April 7 to 9 - GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER
Work stopped in time for the Service of the Three Hours. It is hard to believe that this is the last Easter week end that the Cathedral will be ‘spireless’. Our Swiss team have gone home on holidays and the men from the Glens and Ballymena are about to join them. Attendance at the Easter Eucharist was fantastic. Several groups of visitors - from Halifax in Nova Scotia to Bogota in Columbia. A lot of interest in the Spire and in the strange looking machine in the Talbot Street car park. At present it does look more like a machine for Dr Who.

APRIL 3 - UP GOES THE SPIRE BASE
At 3.30 pm today the man with the crane from Limavady arrived and by 4.30 the base of the Spire of Hope had been lifted into place on the top of the fins which had been welded together forming a plus sign in stainless steel. Glorious weather, good team work but not without skill. Even the gentle breeze showed how difficult the move could be. This entire unit is scheduled to be lifted into place next Thursday morning at approx 1130 weather permitting. It should be quite a sight as it is turned in the air and lowered down into the space in the roof of the Cathedral.

APRIL 2 - ROOFTOP VIEWING
The weather in Belfast was superb today and I took the opportunity of going up in the lift outside the Chapel of Unity and on to the roof of the Cathedral above the transcepts - the last part being done by 30 feet of ladder. Time spent in my more youthful days on rocks in the Mournes, Glencoe and Wales was not wasted after all! The east - west and north - south axis of the Cathedral counteracted surprises when well known land marks are viewed from this lofty perspective. A few photographs should appear on the gallery soon.

A strange green object has appeared in the car park - a shelter has been created over the fins to permit welding to be completed. The Swiss contractors are on time and hopefully the bottom of the Spire will be ready and lifted into place next Thursday or Friday. The base of the spire looked at frpom the Cathedral roof still looks an awesome size.

 

MARCH 28 - FINS ARRIVE
The four massive stainless steel fins for the Spire of Hope arrived at the Cathedral. They left Switzerland three weeks ago to be given their final polish in Munich. These fins will actually hold the spire vertical and will be placed in the rectangle recess above the Choir and the small tower which is visible on the above that at the crossing point of the trancsepts and the line of the nave, choir and sanctuary.

They are now placed vertically in a large steel framework which will hold them in place whilst they are welded together. The the lower section of the Spire will be placed on top and welded, prior to the entire section being lifted and turned before being positioned in the Cathedral roof.

Our Swiss friends already have discovered The Crown.

MARCH 27 - THE LOWER SECTION OF THE SPIRE ARRIVES
Ken and Lillian Patterson, Colin Conn and Robert Jamison were up bringh and earlyto be at the Cathedral at 0630 hours to welcome the first section of the Spire of Hope. The clergy element remained sub-duvet! The task of unloading the section was completed. This can now be viewed in the picture gallery - and in the car park. The stainless steel is being protected by an adhesive covering until it is erected in place.

A mass of scaffolding has appeared on the Cathedral roof. This will provide a framework for the tarpaulins which will shelter the welders and cover the hole in the roof during the construction.

MARCH 26 - TEAM SWITZERLAND ARRIVES
Walter together with three of the welders who will complete the work on the spire arrived at the Cathedral - a sign that the final phase is about to commence. Its going to be quite an international week at the Cathedral with the Swedish soccer team due to visit on Wednesday morning.

Serious dialogue was also underway with the proprietor of the cranes which will raise the spire... all the way from Limavady.

It was a busy morning also at the east end of the Cathedral. I was present with the Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Pat McCarthy, when he visited representatives of Turnus, CUSP and the Strategic Investment Board, as work commenced on the £70 million St Anne's Square development. It is a scenario with builders to the left of us, builders to the right of us, builders to the east of us - and builders above us!

MARCH 22 - STREAMS OF LIVING WATER

The Bible is rich in imagery about springs in desert places. With unerring accuracy an unwanted spring was created in the carpark. There is only one water pipe, and our guys managed to find it when boring in the area of one of the support surrounds for the concrete pads which will support the fins as they are welded on to the bottom of the spire. There were no takers among the work crew on my offer to do outdoor baptisms! If a man made leak is the only problem we will encounter, we will settle for that... but a bit of divine guidance about such hidden traps would be appreciated.

MARCH 20 - GATES CLOSED - WORK UNDERWAY - NO PRISONERS TAKEN
A wild and windy day saw people coming back to work after the St Patrick’s week end. The ould fellow didn’t turn up the warm side of the stone this year.

When I got to the Cathedral, Pattons had assumed complete command of the Talbot Street car park. General Dudley rightly was taking no prisoners and three chancers from the building site across the street who had sussed the combination lock on the side gates had attempted a bit of illegal parking of no less than three cars. They were rightly given their marching - or motoring - orders: “Any more of that and we clamp you”. I didn’t even dare think - “And forgive those who trespass against us”. It is out of the question for the next six weeks. Sorry Lord - but you can’t have it both ways. Trespassers are out if the Spire is to go up. Forgiveness is on hold in the Talbot Street car park!

The Donegall Street gates were locked, the work had already started on taking down the barriers to the car park, extracting the communications system and getting ready for the next stage of removing the wall to enable the two cranes to gain entrance to the car park.

The work also began this morning building the four frameworks in which will be cast four concrete pads on which the four fins will be arranged vertically prior to assembling the bottom section of the Spire. Levelling of the topsides of the frameworks is crucial to provide an even construction base and to defeat the slope of the car park.

I had serious discussions with a most helpful VAT man concerning duties on the fins which are now in the EC, having left non-EC Switzerland. My message was quite simple - we do not want to pay VAT. After all it is a listed building. A prayer formed along the lines of : Dear Lord, there is a matter on my mind right now - as you know... If we forgive the fly-parkers could you sort out our VAT?

MARCH 18 - DISPLAY ATTRACTS TOURIST INTEREST
The display of A3 sized photographs of the work in Switzerland now on show in the Cathedral is certainly attracting the interest of tourists and visitors to worship. One couple from Bristol said they would come back to view the finished project when it was described to them by myself after Choral Evensong. We have to do all we can for our friends in the Tourist Board across Writers' Square!

MARCH 13 - COOL FM FROM ON HIGH
The guys working up in the roof space doing preparatory work on the steel framework gave visitors to the Cathedral a blast of Cool FM music. Not quite Handel’s Largo! A meditative peace was resumed in due course following clerical intervention.

MARCH 12 - FIN DELAY
The fins which were originally due on site by 20th March are delayed by a week - Good news for the drivers who use the Talbot Street car park. They will now come on the 29th.
It was decided to give them an extra polish so they have gone to Munich. But as someone said to Ken, "What is nine days on a spire that will be in place for
hundreds of years".

PRAYERFUL PREPARATION IN THE CAR PARK
Ground lights and bollards are being removed from the car park to enable the cranes to gain entry. A workman who was placing granite setts in the spaces they had left was amused to be informed by me “You are the only one in the Cathedral who is on his knees”. I thank God he knew what I was talking about.

27/28th FEBRUARY, 2007 - TEAM VISIT TO SWITZERLAND

Ken Patterson, John McCalister, Robert Jameson, Colin Conn, Glen Kerr, Anton Sawiki and myself went on an overnight visit to Tuchschmid in Frauenfeld, near Zurich. It was amazing to watch the reactions of the professionals after their first sight of the various elements of the Spire which had engaged their attentions on sketches, plans and specifications. To see the first physical evidence before one’s eyes is quite difficult to describe. Even though I am fairly good at scaling dimensions from drawings and envisaging the size of a project, I was taken aback at the size of the project we had in hand. There was the actual tapered unit which would form the top section of the Spire. There were the two cones of solid stainless steel which would provide the top and the bottom of the spire. Those large discs through which passed a central axle, would be covered by those massive semicircular steel sheets which end on looked like a large pipe split in half from top to bottom.

This was also my first contact with the team at Tuchschmidt headed by architect Walter Luessi. Each person we met was impressive and when one looked at their portfolio of contracts completed and in progress, that was re-enforced. This company has immense experience in stainless steel and other prefabricated structures. It has a most impressive portfolio of very large scale projects in Switzerland. It also completed the work in 2006 for the Alpine House at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, and its other major projects in the UK include a bridge in Liverpool, a spire and attendant work at the Millennium Dome redevelopment.

We saw the large fins which will hold the Spire in place over the aperture above the Choir of the Cathedral. Each would have been adaptable for the fin of a fifty foot plus sailing boat. One was hoisted up some 30 metres so that we could gauge what the finish would look like from a distance. I thought that a gray day in Belfast would not affect it too much even though the sky over Switzerland was mainly blue that day.

The modern accommodation in the grounds of a Carthusian monastery which was into the seminar and guest business, seemed appropriate for our overnight stay. The monastery’s beer was more than passable and the inn half a mile down the road was an excellent venue for a dinner hosted by our Swiss partners. The wine of the area can also be highly recommended. The locals think so highly of it, that they consume it and don’t export it.

A night’s sleep after our 5 am departure for the Harbour Airport was most welcome. More work followed the next morning and a second look was had at the various components.

A delayed British Airways flight from Zurich almost cost us our last flight to the Harbour. Both the British Airways staff and those from BMI at Terminal 4 were less than useless. Customer care doesn’t seem to figure in that terminal. Ken had already phoned his wife Lillian to arrange hotel rooms for this unwanted overnight. However, due to the dogged persistence of John, we ended up in the BMI lounge in Terminal 1 and with the assistance of an excellent young man there, got aboard as the last call was being made. Relief beyond belief at not having to get another very early morning flight.

However, despite the upset, the visit was well worth while. All of us were moved by the scale of the project and the impact it would make not only upon the Cathedral but upon the cityscape of Belfast.

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