New Sign Approved for Grace Episcopal Church

in Westwood is putting on a new face to improve their visibility in the community.

The Westwood Planning Board unanimously approved a plan from the church to replace their two existing signs with one new one during their meeting Thursday.

Currently, the rear of the church's main sign is rotting. A second sign announcing fundraisers and other events is much smaller.

The new sign will be burgundy with gold lettering and announce both the name of the church and its 1905 founding date, according to Larry Toppin, the chairman of Grace's evangelism committee. The top of the sign will be about 8 feet off the ground, and the whole thing will be set back 15 feet from the property line so as to not hinder visibility for passing drivers.

"We feel the sign is very important to us to reach out to the community," Toppin said.

The sign was made more than a year ago, but church leaders did not realize they would have to present the application to the board. 

Councilwoman Ingrid Quinn was among the board members who voted to approve the plan.

"It's going to be a beautiful addition to the front of your building," Quinn said.