Pictured, is the First Baptist Church of Owego.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 23 Sacred Sites Grants totaling over $240,000 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State including a $2,000 grant to First Baptist Church of Owego, New York to help develop a scope of work for roof replacement.
“Religious institutions are often the most beautiful and complex buildings in their communities. We are pleased to be able to help preserve these important institutions for their architecture, history and community service,” said Peg Breen, president, the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
The First Baptist Church of Owego is an early Romanesque Revival style brick church, constructed c. 1857 by local builder James A. Dean on a section of Main Street featuring handsome 19th century homes and public buildings, including several Greek Revival mansions.
The church, which replaced the congregation’s first, 1836 frame church on the site, is located one block north of the Susquehanna River and 22 miles west of Binghamton.
Two and one-half stories, the painted brick, cross-gabled church features half-round masonry openings, brick relief work, paired and tripartite leaded glass windows, and a symmetrical front façade with flanking bell towers. These towers were constructed in 1870 by masons J.S. Hank and Miles Howe, replacing earlier towers that were considered poorly proportioned.
The building was also enlarged at this time to include a fellowship hall and Sunday School classrooms. The west tower retains its bell-profiled roof, while the spire has been removed from the east tower.
In 1971, the church basement was excavated to create additional programming space. The adjacent wood frame, Greek Revival style former parsonage dates from c. 1860.
The church is historically significant for its early association with the Abolition movement, c.1840. John D. Rockefeller attended between the ages of 11 and 14, and General Henry Martin Robert of Robert’s Rules of Order was also a member for a number of years.
Over the past four years, the church has repaired the building due to damage from 2011 Tropical Storm Lee flooding. Small community groups continue to use the church including the rotary group, Allied Christians of Tioga (ACT), a quilting group and seniors.
The Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program is the only statewide program in the country providing financial and technical assistance for the restoration of culturally significant religious properties. Since 1986, the program has disbursed grants of more than $8 million to more than 700 congregations regardless of denominations.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 40 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $40 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in 1,550 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals.
The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations.
For more information, visit www.nylandmarks.org.
