New Baltimore Reformed Church receives Sacred Sites grant

NEW BALTIMORE―The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 21 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $287,500 awarded to 18 historic religious properties throughout New York State.  This includes $17,000 to New Baltimore Reformed Church to help fund steeple restoration and project management for the project.

Portions of the nave of New Baltimore Reformed Church date to 1833, but the current configuration, completed between 1850 and 1870, is the work of architect Thomas W. Gibbons.  

This red-brick, one and a half story church consists of three distinct masses with a blend of Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, and Greek Revival styles.

About 450 people use the church per year for programs such as an annual plant swap, a thrift store, an annual “Garage Sale Day,” an art club, and a monthly community luncheon.

The church has been fundraising for several years to cover repairs to the steeple, estimated at around $150,000. The hope is to have it completed before the church’s 200th anniversary in 2033.

“We are pleased to help another 18 historic religious institutions throughout the State,” said Peg Breen, president of 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,” Breen added.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York ’s architectural legacy for more than 50 years

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