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9 Dec

2013

Saving a Historic Church

Posted by Stuart Chessman 

A major new article in the New York Times by David Gonzalez,”Bringing Back the Artistic Beauty of a 19th-Century Church.”

“The stunningly decorated sanctuary of St. Anselm’s Church in the South Bronx is a marvel of art and architecture, capturing Byzantine, Greek, Italian and German styles. No glistening detail is random, from the gold band circling the balconies — a reminder of God’s crowning glory — to the 12 side pillars, one for each apostle.”

A magnificent church, ravaged by years of neglect and incompetent repairs; a dedicated pastor; a multi-ethnic supportive community; and a visionary conservator has a masterpiece been saved?

“To that end, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, a nonprofit group, enlisted graduate students at Columbia University to prepare an application so that the church could be listed on state and national registers of historic places.

State approval came last week, and federal approval should follow in the coming months. The designation would allow St. Anselm to receive preservation grants, although they would cover only a portion of the total repair cost.

“This building is a treasure,” said Ann Friedman, who runs the conservancy’s Sacred Sites program. “It is a building that deserves more attention, funding, ongoing restoration and investment from the broader New York community.”

Must reading for those who may find themselves in similar circumstances!

Published in Events

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