A 146-year-old Stuyvesant Heights house of worship’s prayers have been answered — by preservationists!
The New York Landmarks Conservancy blessed Stuyvesant Heights Christian Church with a $30,000 grant to repair a massive stain-glass mural at the aging house of worship.
The leader of New York Landmarks Conservancy announced the donation on July 24, describing the money as an offering to Kings County’s divine architecture.
“We feel it is very important to help maintain religious structures that provide a sense of history and place to communities,” said Peg Breen. “Many also provide social service and cultural programs that benefit people beyond their congregations.”
The 1873-built red brick church — located at 69 MacDonough St. near Tompkins Avenue — exists as charming example of classic 19th-century gothic-revival architecture, and serves more than 3,500 people through various community outreach programs — including a pre-school, after-school programs, and bi-monthly food pantries, according to Rev. Sharon Codner-Walker.
But the last roughly century and a half haven’t been kind to church’s 40-foot, stain-glass window located on the building’s Tompkins Avenue side, according to Codner-Walker, who said the conservancy’s check will fund repairs to the window and ailing wooden frame.
The Landmarks Conservancy — founded in 1973 — has provided loans and grants totalling over $52 million to various historic buildings around the state. This year, the organization provided $256,000 in “Sacred Sites Grants” to 23 religious institutions in New York, according to the group’s president.
In addition to funds — which are allotted for preservation and restoration of specific projects — the group also lends technical and architectural expertise to the owners of historic buildings, according to Breen.
