The scaffold went up in September. On Monday the crew lifted the final section of temporary membrane from the lantern and the surveyor ran a moisture reading across the dome shell. Dry. After three winters, dry.

Phase II now moves to the permanent works: timber repair at the lantern ring, new copper sheathing, and the 46 windows that were ordered in August. The parish has asked us to keep the nave open for the feast of the Presentation in February. The schedule holds.

Cost to date: $298,400 of the $480,000 budget. The remaining gap is glazing and interior plaster. Every donation made to the Odesa project before 31 December is matched by a grant from the diaspora council, up to $60,000.