St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes is getting a front porch.

Crews were on site April 19, using a crane to move large pieces of wood into place as work continues to build a portico off the front of the Second Street church.   

The vestry dedicated the portico in honor of one of St. Peter’s longest-serving and most stalwart members, Thomas Rowland Marshall III. Marshall, 100 years old, is a retired river pilot, former member of the choir and honorary co-chair of the Open Door campaign. His faithful and loving service to the church has spanned more than nine decades, and his family continues to be involved in the congregation. Members of his family and of the choir were present for a dedication in September 2020. The Right Rev. Kevin Brown, the bishop of Delaware, will dedicate the portico when he visits Lewes Sunday, May 8. 

The portico is the last of Phase 1 of the Open Door renovations at St. Peter’s. It is all part of a $1.2 million project that has added capacity for the church’s growing congregation while also transforming behind-the-scenes areas to make better use of limited space. 

The original plans for the church from the mid-1800s included a portico, anticipating future expansion, but it was never built.

In a previous interview, the Rev. Jeffrey Ross said the immediate area surrounding the church was purposely never used for the cemetery. Besides the portico, the expansion features two new alcoves off the chancel – the space around the altar – for choir seating and to balance the interior appearance. Space for pews to accommodate 40 more people, including wheelchair users, was added in the sanctuary. A new back entrance near the corner of Market and Third streets provides easier access for people coming from that side of the church. In October 2020, a new steeple cross was added in a dramatic installation effort. 

The current building is the third iteration of the church. The existing structure was completed in the middle of the Civil War. The steeple was added in 1870, and a small addition was built around 1900.

The second phase of the project will begin this summer as St. Peter’s converts the Hart house at the corner of Third and Mulberry streets into offices and classrooms space.