THIS OLD CHURCH
Historic earmark to help fund long-needed
repairs to New Bunswick church complex
Story by Chris Donahue,
Staff Writer
Photos by Wayne N. Meiner,
Editorial Staff
t.
Peter the Apostle Parish,
New Brunswick, which is celebrating
its 175th anniversary,
has embarked on a campaign
to raise $7 million to restore its church,
rectory and convent.
The first major gift, $500,000, came from the New Jersey Historic Trust Nov. 10. The money is part of $2.1 million that is needed for the first phase of renovations, said Father Joseph M. Curry, pastor.
As part of the application process, the parish had to submit a 15-year renovation plan. The money is being raised as part of the parish’s Upon This Rock fundraising campaign.
Founded in 1829, St. Peter the Apostle Parish is the oldest in the diocese followed by St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville, founded in1843.
“We are truly blessed that the souls of the craftsmen who built St. Peter’s live on in their original front doors, side doors, stucco, steps, railings and other elements of this architecture,” Father Curry said. “It is extremely rare to have so many original elements of an historic building in a restorable condition 150 years later.”
Over the years, minor structural repairs have been made to specific parts of all three buildings,“but despite our very best efforts, we knew time was going to eventually win out and that we would have to engage in a major renovation.”
Poor drainage around the church sometimes leads to flooding in the basement so adequate storm drainage and re-grading will be needed.
The church’s 46 stained glass windows – created over a span of 150 years, are all in danger of being lost as a result of destruction by water, pollution and neglect, he said. The main issue is the deterioration of the window framing, which the restoration architects have identified as an immediate priority.
One of America’s foremost stained glass conservators, Art Femenella, examined the windows and said that with immediate attention they can all be preserved for future generations, Father Curry said.
Included in the work needed in the church as well as the convent and rectory are slate roofs, masonry, painting and stucco removal. Drawings for the restoration work are supposed to start immediately and take about six months to complete, he said. Pre-qualifying bidders must then be done, with work commencing in the summer of 2005.
Historic Building Architects, Trenton, which prepared both the preservation plan and Historic Trust Grant application, will oversee construction, said Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner, founding principal of the firm. St. Peter the Apostle Parish was one of about 140 applicants for grants, she said.
Construction of St. Peter the Apostle church began in 1856 by local immigrant tradesmen and artisans under the direction of Patrick Keeley, who became known as the foremost designer of Catholic churches in the United States, Father Curry said. The church took nine years to build.
Keeley also designed two other churches in the diocese: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, also in New Brunswick, said Father Michael G. Krull, pastor of pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville, and the first church of St Joseph Parish, Washington, said Frank L. Greenagel, author of The New Jersey Churchscape: Encountering the 18th and 19th Century Churches (Rutgers University Press).
The first St. Joseph Church, 189 Belvidere Ave., now houses Child Care Services of Catholic Charities, Metuchen.
For St. Peter the Apostle Parish, skilled craftsmen will be used, especially for stained glass windows, slate roofs, traditional flashing and metal work, and masonry restoration, Radcliffe-Trenner said.
“This is difficult, complicated work and requires complicated scaffolding,” she said.
St. Peter the Apostle is not on either the state or national historic register, but it received a certification of eligibility from the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Officer April 2. For properties not already listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, a Certificate of Eligibility satisfies a prerequisite to apply for funds from the New Jersey Historic Trust, as well as several county preservation funding programs.
St. Peter the Apostle Parish has raised about $400,000 from collections during its Masses, so combined with the grant money, it still needs to raise about $1.2 million to meet its $2.1 million goal, Father Curry said.
The Sisters of Charity of Convent Station presently living in the convent will Continued from page 3 move out by the end of December, but will still work in the parish, Father Curry said.
The convent will be converted into a ministry center, he said. Uses might include a discernment center for men thinking about the priesthood. Other uses, still being studied, will benefit both the parish and the city.
Father Curry said maintaining St. Peter the Apostle Parish’s building complex has far-reaching benefits.
“It’s one of the most ethnically diverse (white, black, Hispanic and Fillipino worshipers) parishes that I’ve ever seen and it’s diverse in age as well,” he said. “It was built primarily as an Irish- Catholic stronghold. But now, for the deaf community, the 11 a.m. Mass every Sunday is signed. If I can’t be there there’s an interpreter.
“The Rutgers University community has a 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mass there every Sunday when they’re in session,” he noted. “There’s an interfaith shelter that goes from church to synagogue in the city. We have that for two weeks this winter.”
The doors to the church are kept open from about 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We get a tremendous amount of walk-ins from the city,” Father Curry said. “The college students come in, say a couple prayers or just sit there for a little while. It really is an impressive thing.”
St. Peter the Apostle Elementary School provides a Catholic-based education for about 200 children in kindergarten through eighth grade, while St. Peter the Apostle High School serves about 180 students.
Discussions continue with the Rutgers University Campus Ministry of The Oratory of St. Philip Neri as well as with Msgr. Michael J. Corona, executive director, diocesan Department of Education, and other Catholic social service organizations, to bring the Oratory of St. Philip Neri Fathers to live in the former convent, Father Curry said.
“New Brunswick has gone through a lot. It’s come from a blighted city that is posed for massive revitalization and rebirth and it’s very exciting to be a part of that and to see that also happen to our church,” Father Curry said.
The $500,000 grant was part of $18 million in historic preservation grants awarded to support the restoration and conservation of 85 historic sites throughout the state, according to the state Department of Community Affairs
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law