A JERSEY painter has completed the restoration of one of St Helier’s most recognisable buildings – nearly half a century after first working on it as a teenage apprentice.
Steven Jones-Butel, owner of Sublime Transformations, has spent the past eight-and-a-half weeks repainting the exterior of St Helier Methodist Church, a project he says carried special significance because he first worked on the building when he was just 15.
Mr Jones-Butel was commissioned to carry out the work in October, but delayed the start until spring to avoid winter weather affecting the finish.
Working alone, he spent more than two months preparing and repainting the church using “old-school” brush techniques rather than rollers.
The work, which involved nearly two weeks of preparation, included applying a waterproof coating system designed to protect the building for the next two decades.
For Mr Jones-Butel, however, the project was about more than repainting a landmark.
“I went from a 14-year-old boy, now I’ve gone back as a 63-year-old man to do the church work again… that was why it was so important for me to do the job and do it justice,” he said.
“Originally I did the ceiling years ago inside, when I was about 15 or 16 – that was a bit of a task.”
The experienced tradesman, who has spent nearly half-a-century in the industry, said he still enjoys the work – which is physically demanding, involving climbing up and down scaffolding multiple times a day – as much as when he first started.
Despite having undergone two hip replacements, he completed the project himself, climbing scaffolding daily throughout the restoration.
“It wasn’t a chore for me – it was very rewarding. I would happily work seven days a week if I had to,” he said.
Reflecting on the finished result, Mr Jones-Butel said seeing the transformed church brought a sense of pride.
He added that his work has played an important role throughout his life.
“I’ve struggled with mental health since I was 19, I lost my dad when I was nine, and I lost my best friend a year later. So, I find my job is very rewarding, but it also keeps my napper in a good place,” he reflected.
“I’ve been doing the job for 48 years that I love as much now as when I first started. And I don’t cut corners… everything’s done the way it should be.”
