Felder & Associates, an award-winning architectural firm based in Savannah, brings specialized expertise in worship building design to projects across the Southeastern United States and is leading the St. James the Less Catholic Church and School project with the help of global leaders in the field. Part of a larger, campus-wide $15.5M capital campaign dubbed “Charging Forward in Faith and Education,” the first significant milestone of the project, the rededication of the church sanctuary happened on Sunday, August 3 at 11:30 am Mass, by the Most Rev. Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah.

Open House took place on Friday, August 1 between 6:00 & 8:00 pm, where individuals had the opportunity to explore the beautiful sanctuary. All Masses resumed in the church, beginning with 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, August 2. There was a small reception in the narthex after the 5:00, 7:30, & 9:00 am Masses, with the larger reception in the parish center after 11:30 am Mass on Sunday, August 3. 

“Our plan was to beautify the existing interior and enhance the worship environment for our community. That was one of the most necessary things, to have a place where we are drawn to heaven. To leave the secular and enter the sacred, to make that truth evident in the experience of someone walking in,” confirmed the Rev. Daniel Firmin, Pastor of St. James.

Planning for the project began in late 2019, with areas needing improvement identified by the church’s Parish Council and Finance Committee. The pandemic shutdown in March 2020 put the plans on hold, but they were rekindled in earnest by the fall of 2022. A feasibility study was completed, Felder & Associates was consulted, and the beautification project began. The reimagining of the sanctuary stemmed from two 'what-if' concepts developed by Conrad Schmitt under Firmin's guidance. After review with a small advisory group, the subsequent renovations closely aligned with the chosen conceptual renderings from CSS. The community's response has been overwhelming, with more than 75% of the total required funds raised in under two years. With a large portion secured, work began on the church sanctuary.

With a plan to transform the sanctuary into a more meaningful and transcendent space, Firmin and Felder formed a team that included worldwide leaders in church architecture and design, including Conrad Schmitt Studios of Wisconsin. The renowned, century-old architectural art studio specializes in decorative painting, stained glass, and historic renovation. 

“Since we didn’t add any square footage, we resurfaced everything. The ceiling and walls painted by Conrad Schmitt are very much an old-world level of art and application. It’s very realistic and lifelike, with quality akin to Renaissance painting,” said Founder and Principal Architect Brian Felder. Previously, the interior artwork showcased various artistic styles, which were subsequently homogenized.

Garbutt Construction Company was selected through an extensive interview process for their complementary practices of strong pre-construction guidance, focus on school and church campus continuity of services through construction, and team of quality-focused superintendents, project managers, and subcontractors.

Another partner known for its work in ecclesiastical art and furnishings was King Richard’s Liturgical Design of Alpharetta, GA. With a client list spanning all 50 US states, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia, King Richard’s was trusted to create the new altar, the reredos (the decorative screen behind the altar), and other fixtures and artifacts. The like-minded partnership of Firmin and Felder became clear upon their reaction to the initial reredos design that was submitted for review.

“The first rendering they gave us was all white marble, and it was beautiful. But Brian said, ‘Well, that's not us, that's not St. James, let's tone it down a little bit.’ And we decided to bring wood into the design with the marble. Brian really helped us in steering a lot of what we did,” Firmin explained.

In addition to the church sanctuary, the adjacent school buildings on the St. James campus will be refurbished starting this fall, creating more space and enhancing security for students from pre-K through 8th grade. That portion of the project involves additional structures, which increases Felder’s involvement from project leader of the church sanctuary design to architecture for new structures and subsequent construction. This has allowed for deeper collaboration.

“I've known Brian for a long time, from being the Vicar General of the Diocese of Savannah. I like the way he thinks, and I appreciate how he looks at things. He and I are of the same mind, so it's been a pleasure to work with him. He's given me the words to express what I'm thinking. He has been wonderful to work with,” Firmin said.