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San Fernando Cathedral downtown has been one of the best known landmark's in San Antonio. Every Sunday, mass at the 250-year-old church has been broadcast worldwide, bringing its reach to even more people.
But by 2001, the deterioration of the oldest parish church in Texas was obvious. Mortar crumbled between the stones. Years of little updates in the dark interior were showing. Parishioners and visitors alike sat through masses in the Texas heat - without air conditioning.
Three years and millions of dollars later, all that changed.
Outside the Cathedral, crumbling mortar between stones was removed and replaced. Stones were restored to their natural color.
Inside, flooring was removed to install air-conditioning equipment White floor stones replaced dark ones, brightening the cathedral. The ceiling, darkened by years of candle smoke, was up-lighted: lights now shine on the ceiling. Original ceiling patterns were painted on new sheets of masonite and applied to the ceiling to enhance acoustic properties.
Time-yellowed outer glass...