Statement From All Saints Episcopal: Church of the Holy Innocents

HOBOKEN, NJ — The following op-ed comes courtesy of the Rev. Elaine Ellis Thomas, rector at All Saints Parish. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

We are delighted that there has recently been renewed interest and attention focused on the Church of the Holy Innocents at the corner of Willow and 6th Street. This building has been a beloved fixture in this community since 1874, and the idea that restoration work is imminent has generated several news items and blogs which, while good for focusing the spotlight on this work, have also led to misinformation about the scope, intention, and people involved in the project.

Holy Innocents is owned by All Saints Parish, and any restoration or future use will be determined and executed by the rector and vestry of All Saints. In 2015, a group of dedicated volunteers formed Friends of Holy Innocents as a way to generate some income, and they undertook a massive effort to clean out decades of storage and an accumulation of debris to make the building usable for modest purposes. The work of Friends of Holy Innocents, many of whom are members of All Saints, continues to take its direction and receive approval for events and projects from All Saints Parish.

Last spring, All Saints renewed its efforts to complete repair work on the north gable that was damaged in Hurricane Sandy. In addition, we have a list of necessary upgrades in order to bring the building up to code. It is this work for which we have received approval. We have neither the money nor the plans in place for a full restoration, although we are hopeful that, once the building can be used, we will hold events to raise awareness and generate funding for the restoration.

There is no individual outside of All Saints Parish “taking over” this project. We have some local friends who have volunteered to assist with fundraising, but, as yet, a long-term strategy has not been developed.

As for future use, as consecrated space, Holy Innocents is first and foremost an Episcopal church. We hope to hold special celebrations there, including weddings. Because there are no pews, the space is flexible, so we also have an eye on some arts and cultural events as well as community events that fall under a yet-to-be-determined set of usage guidelines.

To reiterate, we are truly hopeful that we are in the beginning stages of a full-scale restoration of this “Gem of Stone” that is regarded with such deep affection by the people of Hoboken. We are grateful for community support in this undertaking, and especially all of those who have volunteered so much time and effort to get us to where we are.

If you need any information about Holy Innocents, please contact the rector directly.

The Rev. Elaine Ellis Thomas, Rector

ethomas@allsaintshoboken.com