Established in 1794, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic parish in Washington, DC, and a treasured spiritual landmark in the heart of the nation’s capital. In September 2024, the church underwent a transformative sanctuary renovation requiring both technical precision and deep respect for liturgical tradition. Rugo Stone was entrusted with this complex project, bringing decades of expertise in ecclesiastical stonework and historic preservation.
The project included the design, fabrication, and installation of a new Bianco Carrara marble sanctuary platform, sourced directly from Italy, and dry-laid in Rugo’s studio to ensure seamless veining and color matching. The renovation also involved raising and reinstalling the ambo, fabricating a new mensa top for the tabernacle, restoring and reinstalling two carved marble bas reliefs, and conserving the Last Supper carving with detailed cleaning, repairs, and 3D scanning for precise integration.
One of the highlights was the creation of a new marble statue of St. Monica, developed in collaboration with Italian artisans. Starting from a full-scale clay model, the statue was CNC-carved from Carrara C marble and then hand-finished to capture lifelike expression and intricate drapery. Rigging expertise ensured safe handling of heavy stone elements, while the existing marble floor was refinished in place.
The completed sanctuary blends historical reverence with thoughtful liturgical enhancements, ensuring St. Patrick’s remains a place of enduring beauty and worship for generations to come.
Location: Washington, DC
Completion Date: 2024
Owner: St. Patrick Parish
Architect: Franck & Lohsen Architects
General Contractor: Rugo Stone
Services Performed: Consult, Design, Fabricate, Restore, and Install Stone. Historic Preservation, Artistic Sculpture, and Marble Restoration
