Clinton Lewis/Daily News Christ Episcopal Church parishioner Shanna Paul completes the top row of copper panes in the trellis-styled artwork last week in the church's courtyard.

Christ Episcopal Church has long earmarked funds from its budget for Habitat for Humanity of Bowling Green/Warren County.

On top of that, for several years members have done art projects to raise money within the congregation for Habitat, which builds high-quality, low-priced homes for people who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

Through Habitat, the future owners of a house must help with the home’s construction.

Christ Episcopal supports Habitat because “it’s so different from the normal charity,” said Carol DuBose, Christ Episcopal’s director of Christian education. “People can work toward the pride of home ownership. And the self-esteem they get is so far beyond what they get from other charities.”

Now, Christ Episcopal has a new fund-raising art project, which they hope will also get the community involved in their helping of Habitat.

The largest art pieces are two copper trellises created by The Rev. Jim Quigley, associate rector of Christ Episcopal, and Shanna Paul, a church member. The trellises are adorned with six-inch copper panels that were cut for free by Geoghegan Roofing. The panels have been decorated by Quigley and Paul with paint, glass, wire and more, including Biblical quotes and words of hope in English and Hebrew.

Recently, “the panels were on display at the church for about a month, and people sponsored a panel for $25 a square” or more if a person was moved to do so, Quigley said.

As panels were sponsored, they were put on a trellis. So far, $2,800 has been raised through the trellis project.

Quigley and Paul hope to now sell the trellises to benefit Habitat further during a Sept. 30 silent auction that will be open to the public at the church at 1215 State St.

The auction will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will also include paintings by church member Frank Brown, who has shown his work in New York, and individual copper panels that Quigley and Paul created for people who may not be able to afford to bid on one of the trellises.

Wine and cheese will be served at the event, where Leo Fernandez of Bowling Green will play violin and Christie and Butch Ross of Bowling Green will perform dulcimer duets throughout the evening.

“Christie will play a hammer dulcimer and Butch will play a mountain dulcimer, sometimes called an Appalachian dulcimer,” Quigley said.

In addition, Habitat homeowner Jacqueline Blair and local Habitat Board President Robert Chaudoin will speak at the event.

Blair said having a Habitat home – the first house she has ever owned – has been “a wonderful experience.” She lives at Stubbins Field subdivision in Bowling Green.

For years, before owning a home, Blair prayed that God would help her get one.

“To be able to help put the roof on, it means a lot to me and my family,” she said. “I have two daughters, and to know that the home is ours and will be ours in a couple years, is really important. … I’m appreciative of Habitat for Humanity.”

She’s also appreciative of what Christ Episcopal is doing.

“I’m so glad more people are getting involved and more knowledge is getting to the public and more people will be able to participate,” she said. “To me, it’s just a way of showing love.”

Marilyn King, director of Habitat for Humanity of Bowling Green/Warren County, said she “was so impressed with the uniqueness” of the Christ Episcopal fund-raiser.

“To know they’ve extended it beyond their church to make this connection with the community is overwhelming,” she said. “They’re very kind to Habitat in their servants’ hearts. I can’t wait until the event.”

She said the trellis art “is absolutely awesome.”

The public can view the trellises from now until the auction in the Christ Episcopal Garden, bordering 12th Avenue.

While Quigley and Paul are anxious to see how much the sale of the trellises will raise for Habitat, they will have a hard time parting with the art.

“I think it’s the best artwork I’ve done,” said Paul, who is no stranger to showing her work in Bowling Green. “It’s about putting your hands to good use in some small way.”

Quigley is also glad he can share his talent for a good cause. Before becoming a minister, he had a business in which he made wrought iron sculpture and furniture. He has a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

“For me, it’s more and more about the gifts from God I’ve been given in art, and how they can be used in the church,” Quigley said.

King said it’s fitting that Christ Episcopal is helping Habitat.

“The churches are the basis on which Habitat was founded,” she said.

And such help reflects the local Habitat slogan, which is “Building our community – local people, local dollars, local difference,” King said.

“We are so blessed to have members of this faith community, like the membership of Christ Episcopal Church, to help us as we serve those in need in our community”

– For more information about the trellis project, call Quigley at 843-6563. To donate to Habitat at any time, send donations to Habitat for Humanity of Bowling Green/Warren County at 517 W. 11th Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42101.