Little Sanctuary and Downed Tree from Severe Storm

In the early evening of Saturday, July 29, a powerful thunderstorm ripped through Northwest DC, downing power lines and trees up and down Massachusetts Avenue.

Unfortunately, the Close was not spared of damage. Multiple trees, limbs, and branches were downed, blocking off roads around St. Albans. Most significantly for St. Albans, a tree from the Cornerstone Garden came down and part of the tree is currently resting on the roof of the Little Sanctuary. There were no injuries as a result of the storm.

The initial assessment of the damage to the Little Sanctuary looked promising, with no broken windows or interior damage. A crane is being brought in and will remove the tree by the end of the week so that repairs can begin.

The PECF grounds crew, Director of Safety and Security Jay Driscoll, Facilities Manager Kirk Atkins, the Cathedral’s Director of Horticulture and Grounds Sandy Flowers, and countless others worked tirelessly over the weekend to clear as much debris as possible and allow summer camps, faculty, and staff to return to campus to continue to operate. The entire St. Albans community extends our gratitude to them for their efforts.

Updates about the repairs to the Little Sanctuary will be shared as they become available.