Preservation Society continues restoration of Fall River’s St. Anne Shrine; here is an update on their progress

Since becoming detached from the Fall River Diocese in November of 2018, volunteers and donors have been keeping St. Anne Shrine’s lower church open and working toward the opening of the upper church. The Shrine issued another positive update on the restoration process.

According to Bryan Boyle of the St. Anne Shrine Preservation Society, the Dominican Chapel and Crypt in the lower shrine, the final resting place of three of the Fathers who were responsible for making St. Anne’s a destination for thousands of pilgrims over the last century, is nearing completion after a nearly 18-month renovation effort.

Boyle stated that “the work involved removing the failed tile flooring, installing a trench around the perimeter of the chapel and installation of a sump pump to remove any future water ingress, removal of the damaged wallboard up to the level of the windows, installation of vapor barriers, new wallboard, and a marble floor with a mosaic inlay of the crest of the Order of Preachers. The altar, which had been in a state of disrepair, was stripped of its finish, damaged wood replaced, refinished with waterproof primer, repainted, highlights gold leafed, and the matching tabernacle converted to be used as a reliquary to securely house a suitable relic of a Dominican saint. A new altar crucifix and candle holders were also sourced to complete the metalwork for the chapel.”

Fr. Kenneth Sicard, OP, President of Providence College, was crucial in obtaining a grant from the college to the Preservation Society to enable them to renovate the burial ground of his fellow Dominicans as a fitting memorial to their service.

The restoration of the second gate to the burial crypt and minor lighting/decoration refinement and replacement of the statuary are among the projects left to be completed.

The Dominican Chapel and Crypt restoration, however, is not the only work that has been taking place at the Shrine.

Repairs to the structure on South Main Street have been taking place over the last 6 years including crucial roof work as of late.

Boyle stated this past summer that “once the water ingress issues have been addressed, according to our architect, at least a full year will have to pass to allow the upper structure interior to fully dry out. Once this happens, we can then proceed to fully clean the upstairs of the fallen plaster, stabilize the remaining wall surfaces, and prepare to work with the City and diocesan officials for permission to reopen the upper church.”

The upper church could be open in a couple of years if all goes well.

While this work is going on, the lower Shrine will remain open for visitors during normal business hours of Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM, Saturday/Sunday 12PM-4PM.

If you are interested in donating to the cause or learning more about the Shrine, click here.