When we refurbished out beautiful  French Gothic cathedral in Covington, KY, we used the marble altar rails to surround the new baptismal pool....not only a safety measure but a way to preserve our heritage in a new way.  The beautiful sanctuary gates with bronze pelican feeding her young were also incorporated into the refurbishment.  One was used as the gate to the baptismal pool; the other was embedded in the front of our new altar.  It is quite beautiful and again respects our tradition with a creative reuse.