What Should a Church Renovation Committee Photograph Before Work Begins?

DIRECT ANSWER:

Photograph the entire sanctuary first, then document individual furnishings, architectural details, damage, hardware, memorials and transitions between materials. Take more photographs than you think you need before anything is removed.

THE CHEAPEST DOCUMENTATION TOOL IN THE WHOLE RENOVATION IS ALREADY IN YOUR POCKET.

USE THE CAMERA BEFORE THE ROOM CHANGES.

1. WIDE SANCTUARY PHOTOS

Photograph:

Front to back

Back to front

Both side walls

Center aisle

Side aisles

Platform

Balcony where applicable

2. PEW LAYOUT

Photograph:

Rows

Aisles

End conditions

Different lengths

Accessible seating areas

Special configurations

3. EACH FURNISHING TYPE

Photograph:

Pews

Lectern

Pulpit

Communion table

Choir furnishings

Cabinetry

Doors

Railings

4. CLOSE-UP DETAILS

Photograph:

Carving

Profiles

Molding

Joinery

Decorative ends

Hardware

Finish

5. DAMAGE

Photograph:

Cracks

Loose joints

Broken components

Worn finish

Missing pieces

Water damage

Previous repairs

6. PLAQUES AND MEMORIALS

Photograph every:

Donor plaque

Dedication

Memorial plate

Inscription

Historic label

7. FLOOR CONNECTIONS

Before removing furnishings, photograph how they meet:

Floor

Walls

Platforms

Other woodwork

8. UNDERSIDES AND BACKS

These may reveal:

Construction

Fasteners

Labels

Repairs

Historic information

9. DIMENSION REFERENCE

Where useful, include a tape measure or recorded dimensions separately.

Do not rely solely on photographs for critical fabrication dimensions.

10. SAVE THE FILES IN AN ORGANIZED FOLDER

Use descriptive names where practical.

For example:

North-side-pew-row-3

Pulpit-front

South-door-hardware

Donor-plaque-pew-17