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Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport Village was borne from Catholic immigrants who’d temporarily live in the area to serve wealthy residents in the summer months, eventually coming to settle permanently in Bellport.
But building their own church took awhile.
In the meantime, the closest churches were in Riverhead, Port Jefferson and Huntington.
“Gradually, as the population in the area grew, priests would on occasion come to Patchogue to celebrate Mass; somewhat closer, but still four miles away,” reads the church website.
Eventually the Bellport congregation raised enough funds to build the little church on land that cost $500 on Browns Lane, just south of South Country Road. The church was dedicated on May 28, 1905.
And this week, it was announced Mary Immaculate will be the recipient of one of 14 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $228,000, which were awarded to 14 historic religious properties throughout New York.
“We are delighted that our grants will help these diverse congregations maintain their buildings and continue to serve their communities with social service and cultural programs,” said Peg Breen, president of the nonprofit New York Landmarks Conservancy. ”These 14 congregations reach a total of 60,000 people beyond their congregations with no-cost or low-cost services.”
Mary Immaculate was awarded $10,000 for much-needed roof repairs, made possible by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
(Click here to learn more about the foundation out of East Hampton.)
According to the Landmarks Conservancy, “architect Isaac Henry Green designed the building in a simplified Gothic-revival style with some Queen Anne-style detailing.”
The parish later built a larger church next door in 1953, but the original church continues to be used for midweek services and sacramental life cycle events, such as christenings and communions.
The building and property is also utilized by local clubs and the Village of Bellport for summer camps.
The parish serves about 2,700 people.
Photo Courtesy of The New York Landmarks Conservancy
