It was just announced that The United Methodist Church of Patchogue will be receiving a nice chunk of some $240,000 being awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State.
The church on South Ocean Avenue is getting a $20,000 Sacred Sites Grant to help fund roof, masonry, and window waterproofing repairs.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Long Island Sacred Sites grants are made possible through the generous support of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
“Religious buildings anchor communities providing a sense of history and place. They are among our most important landmarks,” said Peg Breen, president of the The New York Landmarks Conservancy, which coordinates the program. “Preserving them also allows congregations to continue to offer social service and cultural programs to their communities.”
The red-brick United Methodist Church of Patchogue was constructed in 1890 to the designs of architect Oscar Teale, and serves about 6,000 people through various community activities such as 12-step meetings, community dinners, a Head Start program, ESL classes, a food pantry and clothing distribution, reads an announcement from state.
The congregation itself was founded during George Washington’s first term and has been located at the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Church Street since 1891. The congregation celebrated its 225th anniversary in 2016.
While looking forward, United Methodist Church celebrates 225 years
The Conservancy’s Sacred Sites program has assisted more than 750 congregations across New York State since its founding in 1986, with grants totaling over $12 million. The grants have contributed to more than $740 million in total restoration projects. The program is one of a few in the country aiding landmark religious institutions and the only one assisting an entire state, according to the state.
