In the midst of lockdowns and the like, it could be easy to neglect the fact that work, while significantly slowed down, was still ongoing for many liturgical craftsmen, not least of which Rugo Stone whose expertise was utilized in a project for Christendom College's Christ the King Chapel. The project in question involved the recycling of an antique gothic revival altarpiece, but it was a little more complicated than that as new pieces also had to be fabricated. Rugo Stone provides some detailed infromation about the backdrop of the project:
In early 2021 Rugo was contacted to assess the potential of restoring, modifying, and repairing a salvaged Gothic rear altar initially constructed in a parish church in North Hampton, MA, originally installed in the late 1880s. Rugo dismantled the altar, crated it, and delivered it to the Rugo shop in multiple trucks. Rugo quickly realized no drawings were created for the altar to identify piece numbers, no overall dimension strings, and no cavity set back dimensions. Rugo consulted with the client about the lack of drawings and began a factory dry set and reconstruction of the altar so that the team could create accurate-as-built dimensions used later to install the altar to the footprint. From May 2021 to Winter 2023, Rugo carefully cleaned, repaired, repolished, and carved new missing elements in 3D and planer pieces. The team also replaced special onyx inlay colors and missing pure statuary marble elements and repolished all the columns. This conservation process engaged 8-10 Rugo craftsmen and our in-house engineer full-time to perform meticulous conservation. Once the rear altar was complete, our team moved on to perform the same “as-built” process and design modifications for other classically salvaged items such as the altar of sacrifice, the altar communion rail, a custom-designed Celtic cross, the holy water font, and four devotional chapels. Each of these additional furnishings required extensive time and care to modify, restore, and embellish for their new purpose. Our mosaic studio created a new altar of sacrifice center panel mosaic and a 24-carat gold mosaic in the holy water basin. The Rugo team also fabricated three 3’-6” diameter waterjet cut medallions comprised of Red Jasper, Giallo Siena, and Fior Di Pesco marbles to symbolize the Wounds of Christ. These inlays were constructed with 1/32” seams and hand-selected bright Giallo Siena to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ. Each piece was planed smooth and repolished to a glass-like surface.
In short, what you are about to see is a combination of antique elements and also entirely contemporary ones. The fact that you will be hard pressed to ascertain which is which is a testimony to the success of the project.
We begin with the altars of reservation (a traditional high altar with reredos) and the freestanding "altar of sacrifice." The arrangement has been done quite well, because from the vantage point of the main aisle of the chapel, the freestanding altar visually merges with the traditional high altar behind, giving the illusion that they are a singular piece.
This next view shows better the true arrangement of the sanctuary, including its beautiful altar rail and ambo.
Not to be missed, however, is the gorgeous baptismal font that has been installed within the narthex of the church, thus maintaining by its symbolic placement as the means by which we "enter into the church."
Finally, here are some other general details taken from the chapel.
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