Mamaroneck United Methodist Church Earns Sacred Sites Grant From New York Landmarks Conservancy

MAMARONECK, NY — Mamaroneck United Methodist Church has received a $12,000 Sacred Sites Grant from the New York Landmarks Conservancy to help fund siding replacement at the historic property.

The award was part of a larger round of 21 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $287,500 for 18 historic religious properties across New York State. The Conservancy said the grants support planning and exterior restoration projects at religious institutions.

Mamaroneck United Methodist Church was built in 1859 and is described as a carpenter Gothic church on the Long Island Sound. The building was constructed by shipbuilders to the designs of "Mr. Correja," likely New York City-based architect John Correja, Jr. The church spire long served as a landmark for mariners because it was the tallest distinctive architectural feature in town and was visible from the Long Island Sound.

The church also serves people beyond its congregation through a range of programs, according to the announcement. It reaches about 1,500 people through six scout troops, youth gym classes, a nursery school, acting classes, use as a polling location, an artist-in-residence program, music lessons, and shared space with a Latinx congregation, Iglesia El Cordero De Dios.

"We are pleased to help another 18 historic religious institutions throughout the State," said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. "Religious buildings tell the story of our history, our immigration patterns and our architectural growth. They also anchor communities. Collectively, these grantees serve 94,500 persons beyond their congregations with social service and cultural programming."

The Sacred Sites Program provides matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, along with technical assistance and workshops, according to the Conservancy. Since 1986, the program has pledged more than 1,700 grants totaling more than $14.75 million to more than 880 religious institutions statewide, helping fund more than $820 million in repair and restoration projects.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is a private nonprofit that has worked for more than 50 years to preserve New York's architectural legacy. Since its founding, the organization said it has loaned and granted more than $62 million, leveraging almost $1 billion in nearly 2,000 restoration projects throughout New York.