St. John's Episcopal Church in Huntington, New York Receives Sacred Sites Grant

The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 23 Sacred Sites Grants totaling over $240,000 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State including a $4,000 grant to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington, New York to help fund tower masonry restoration.

“Religious institutions are often the most beautiful and complex buildings in their communities. We are pleased to be able to help preserve these important institutions for their architecture, history and community service,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy.

The parish of St. John’s was founded in 1745. The current church, dating from 1907, is the congregation’s third building, and was constructed after a 1905 fire. The church was designed by well-known church architect Henry M. Congdon. The Gothic Revival church, constructed of rough-hewn granite blocks, has a massive central tower block with simplified crenellations. There are brick-trimmed Tudor-arch window openings with wooden tracery and stained glass. The low band of brick that runs along the base of the church suggests a foundation line. The entryway has a steep pitched slate-shingle roof supported by wood trusses. There is a small gable end near the tower with half-timber decoration. The interior retains the original fixtures, pews, and decorative scheme. A Sunday School building was constructed adjacent to the church in 1964.

In addition to worship, the church has a wide range of community service and outreach programs including a thrift shop, literacy program, AA meetings, nursery school, community breakfast program, education, crafts, and job training program. Combined, these programs reach 400 community members.

The Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program is the only statewide program in the country providing financial and technical assistance for the restoration of culturally significant religious properties. Since 1986, the program has disbursed grants of more than $8 million to more than 700 congregations regardless of denominations.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 40 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $40 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in 1,550 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals. The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.