Mamaroneck United Methodist Church Awarded $6K Grant For Steeple Restoration

The below article was submitted by Andrea and Associates public relations firm on behalf of Mamaroneck United Methodist Church.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 23 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $294,500 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State including $6,000 to .

“You don’t have to be religious to understand that religious institutions contain some of our finest art and architecture. Many also provide vital social service programs and cultural activities that make significant contributions to their communities. Mamaroneck United Methodist Church was pledged a $6,000 Sacred Sites grant towards steeple restoration to stop ongoing water damage. Past grants have also supported prior steeple restoration campaigns and a conditions survey,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. 

Built in 1859, the Mamaroneck United Methodist Church is a fine example of carpenter Gothic architecture in Westchester County. The Village of Mamaroneck sits on the Long Island Sound, and the builders of the church were, for the most part, shipbuilders.

The features most commonly associated with this architecture—lancet windows of tall proportion coming into a pointed arch and the window tracery—are distinctive features of the church. The spire of the church resembles European gothic cathedrals by being the tallest distinctive architectural feature in town and visible from the Sound.

This wood frame church sits just opposite to the Sound and is subject to significant exposure and weathering of its steeple. The proposal, from Nyack-based Arthur Vincent Company, Inc., calls for the erection of scaffolding, complete removal of paint from the steeple clapboard, and a thorough inspection of the wood clapboards, trim, and spires. Any rotten wood will be replaced with untreated pine. Once this work is finished, the steeple will be repainted.

Beyond worship, the church complex serves as the home for the ; hosts AA and other 12-step program meetings as well as a dance school. The church makes its facilities available to the Boy Scout and the Cub Scout troops. Numerous musical events and programs are held throughout the year, along with a weekly yoga class for the elderly. Youth groups for middle and high school students congregate at the church. The church serves as the base for the Midnight Run into Manhattan, where clothes and food are distributed to the city's homeless.

About the Landmarks Conservancy:

The New York Landmarks Conservancy has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve, restore, and reuse New York City’s wonderful architectural legacy for nearly 40 years.  Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $36 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in restoration projects. The Conservancy has also provided countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both non-profit organizations and individuals.  The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, preserving the character of New York for future generations. 

For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.