DOWNTOWN TAMPA - During the recent approval process for historic preservation status for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, city Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena said what she likes best is that the 1904-built church "has changed very little."

The church's surroundings, however, will undergo major changes next year.

With $2.5 million raised, the project will see the bulldozing of a two-story building and construction of a children's chapel in the northeast corner of the church complex, which occupies a city block between Twiggs and Madison streets.

Before the work begins, the Rev. John Reese was compelled to move forward with seeking the local landmark designation. It was a decision years in the making.

"It was a debatable issue," Reese said recently, relaxing in his office in a six-story building the church bought about 10 years ago.

"Some didn't want a historical preservation governing body telling us what we could do," he said.

But Reese, who moved from upstate New York to lead St. Andrew's almost three years ago, said he believed more information would calm that fear.

"Of course, we never want to tear down the church," he said. "And being a local landmark really just affects our not changing the exterior, which we don't want to do either."

The construction project is set to begin in March and be completed by December 2008.

In addition to the new chapel, St. Andrew's will get a new roof, lighting repairs and fresh paint inside and outside. Its stained glass windows will be cleaned and upgraded, including one depicting the apostle Andrew.

Reese, whose office occupies the second floor of the former Western Union building, said the plan is to redo two more floors.

"We have all this space above us," he said, "and haven't been able to use it."

He said some of the space could be leased to a nonprofit or other organization. The church also owns a parking lot on its block.

As for his role as master builder as well as leader of the 600-member church, Reese said, "I knew what I was getting into when I applied for the job. The master plan was already prepared, and the church committee was busy expressing ideas about how to handle this change."

He doesn't expect alterations to the church's schedule, which includes services at 8:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday and noon Wednesday.

Reese considers the sanctuary's cross-shaped interior a major draw for the urban church.

"The architecture makes you feel like you're in church," he said.

Rob Glisson of Rojo Architecture said he doesn't see any problems matching the new Spanish-Mediterranean style with the old.

"It's pretty unbelievable, but we have the original renderings of the church, and they are on some type of fabric," said Glisson, who has been hired to design the children's chapel.

St. Andrew's also is known for its downtown outreach, including feeding the homeless at 11:30 a.m. weekdays. It provides bus fares and money for other necessities, such as toothbrushes and blankets.

"Many of our members want to be part of such a hands-on ministry," Reese said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.