St. Augustine Altar

After a devastating robbery in 2022 left the altar at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn damaged and misaligned, EverGreene was brought in to restore this historic liturgical centerpiece. Originally constructed in 1897 by the Charles F. Hall Company, the marble and alabaster altar once housed a prized silver and gold tabernacle, secured within a custom-built steel safe. During the break-in, the tabernacle was stolen, and the force used to extract it left the altar fractured and unstable.

Our team began by carefully removing the now-compromised steel safe, which had been integral to the altar’s original construction. This involved precision cutting and rigging to ensure the surrounding stonework and baldacchino weren’t further damaged. Remarkably, small fragments of the stolen tabernacle—including pieces of gold and precious stones—were recovered during the safe’s removal and returned to the church.

With the altar cleared, conservators shifted focus to realignment and repair. Using epoxy, structural pins, and custom fills, they reset displaced marble elements and reinforced fractured areas, including a broken column and detached finials. Cleaning was performed with a combination of dry and wet methods, targeting years of soot, wax, and staining. The team achieved a dramatic visual transformation.

Today, the altar at St. Augustine once again commands reverence and attention. EverGreene’s restoration revived its luminous stone surfaces and intricate detailing, ensuring this sacred space continues to inspire worship and reflect the rich legacy of its community.