“I can appreciate that some people may say, ‘Why spend so much?’” said the Rev. Wm. Blake Rider, of Christ Episcopal Church in the City of Poughkeepsie. “But I say, because it’s a landmark.”
A historic restoration project totaling nearly $700,000 has begun at the church, on the corner of Academy and Barclay streets. Scaffolding has been constructed around the church’s late-19th century tower, and the project – which will include the removal and restoration of the stonework composing the spire, as well as the stonework of the north façade of the tower, will begin in the spring.
The project, which has been in the planning stages for more than a decade, will be funded by a number of resources, including the state of New York, through the Environmental Protection Fund; New York Landmarks Conservancy; the Episcopal Diocese of New York; the people of the Christ Episcopal Church, through a parish-wide capital campaign, and area philanthropies.
“A lot of these churches are architectural gems, and real landmarks in their communities, and lot of programs that would otherwise fund restoration projects won’t, simply because of religious affiliations,” said Colleen Meagher of New York Landmarks Conservancy.
Meagher is the manager of grants and technical services of the Sacred Sites Program – which is dedicated to providing financial and technical assistance for the maintenance, repair and restoration of religious properties of all denominations throughout the state of New York. The program has been dispersing funds since 1986, and more than 32 grants have been awarded to religious properties throughout Dutchess County. Christ Episcopal Church has been awarded three grants by the agency since 1991, and the most recent one was for the tower restoration project.
“Many of these institutions run important programs for their communities, and you can’t do that if you don’t have a roof,” said Meagher.
The church has a storied local history, dating back to 1756, when the population of Dutchess County was fewer than 10,000. The current structure – built in 1888, exemplifies American Gothic Revival architecture, a romantic style of architecture characterized by tall arches and dramatic height changes.
Eventually the mortar in the church’s tower began to fail, and though the tower did not pose a structural danger, the trees growing through its roof were sure signs that something needed to be done.
Additionally, ongoing maintenance is taking place throughout the church, and renovations are occurring in the rectory. The rectory was first built in 1903, but in the 1980s it was transformed into a parish house. For more than two decades the building housed social service organizations. As housing prices increased the church opted to turn the building back into a living space, but renovations after years of use were necessary.
On Friday, March 7 representatives from local, county, and state governments, as well as the Episcopal Diocese of New York, gathered at the foot of the tower for an inauguration.
“The conversation to restore the stonework on our late-19th century tower began years ago,” said Rider. The tower project, and corresponding fundraising were under way when he arrived in 2006, and he’s glad to see the project in motion.
“We could have simply torn the tower down, but that would have cost $500,000, and nobody will help fund that. Instead, we’re paying $200,000 more and restoring a landmark,” said Rider.
Restoration to the tower is expected to be completed by August.