The 1972 Church

During the period of 1968-1972, a major repair and renovation program was undertaken by the congregation. The Sunday School building was demolished, to be replaced by a new masonry two-story structure, which included offices and rest rooms. The Victorian cornice and brackets were removed and replaced with a classical cornice and built-in gutters. A narthex was added, as well as a portico with pediment and ionic columns. The old stained glass trimmed leaded windows, which were deemed unrepairable, were removed and replaced with new tinted, seeded glass. These conformed with the classical architectural style of the building.

A new foundation was installed, to stabilize the old rubble 1803 structure, and the entire building was veneered with white brick. The basement floor level was lowered three feet and reinforced concrete flooring was installed. New steel columns and girders and a five-inch reinforced concrete floor was provided for the sanctuary.

The choir loft was enlarged by eight feet. First floor exit doors were moved and new exits provided on the balcony level. The balcony was reinforced with steel columns. While the construction was in progress, the old pews were removed, refinished and new cushions were provided.

Large steel H columns, now encased in wood, were installed from new concrete footings in the basement to just above the Historical Room ceiling. This was done to stabilize the steeple which had been leaning slightly to the East for many years.