Northport Church Nears $300K Fundraising Goal For Repairs
/By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 270 Main St., Northport Village is around $75,000 away from its $300,000 fundraising goal for repairs. (Photo courtesy of Alex Edwards-Bourdrez)
Northport’s oldest church is entering the final weeks of a capital campaign to raise $300,000 that would go towards restoring and rebuilding its facilitates.
Officials of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 270 Main St. in Northport village launched at the tail end of March the public portion of fundraising efforts to upgrade portions of the church, including the steeple that’s overlooked the village since 1873.
The campaign is hoped to fuel four major goals: an estimated $135,000 restoration of the historic steeple; a $40,000-$75,000 preservation effort for 16 stained glass windows; restoration of the church’s exterior woodwork; and upgrades to the restrooms.
Other desired projects include improving handicap accessibility and updating the church kitchen.
St. Paul’s Senior Pastor Rev. Kristina Hansen said that the restorations are important because the church is both a historical part of the community and a vibrant space that is continuously utilized.
“If we don’t handle the steeple project, then we will lose the entire sanctuary, and that would be a terrible shame,” Hansen said. “There is such a sweet spirit in the place that when people come in they have an experience of welcome that comes from generations and generations of people who have worshipped in that place.”
Hansen said that the congregation at St. Paul’s prides itself on being open and engaged with the community in ways that keep the church relevant.
In 2015, the congregation at St. Paul’s voted to adopt a new welcome statement that rejects anti-homosexual language from the United Methodist Book of Discipline, specifically that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
Instead, the Northport church’s statement puts forth the belief “that discrimination is incompatible with Christ’s Gospel.”
In addition to hosting weddings, funerals and baptisms, St. Paul’s also hosts meetings for Yoga classes, Boy Scouts Troop 410, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Asharoken Garden Club and other community groups.
“It speaks something when you update the facilities so that they welcome people in, and that is part of who you need to be as a spiritual and religious presence in the community,” Hansen said. “We want to make sure that we are remaining relevant, contemporary, available and providing the hospitality to all the people who come through these doors.”
The public portion of St. Paul’s capital campaign is looking to build off of several substantial donations received last fall, including $25,000 each from the neighboring John W. Engeman Theater and the foundation of Northport residents Charles and Helen Reichert.
Alex Edwards-Bourdrez, public relations chair, said the campaign has met approximately 75 percent of its fundraising goal, with about $75,000 left to raise before the June 30 deadline.
He added that the church hopes to get started with construction this summer.
