It’s a mixed blessing being responsible for a Victorian church.
On one hand the soaring space of the sanctuary is a beautiful place to hold religious services. On the other hand the maintenance is expensive.
The congregation of Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ knows this firsthand.
‘It seems we move from one expensive project to the next,? says Pastor Karen Moeschberger. ‘In 2004 it was the roof, in 2005/6 it was the interior plaster work. Now in 2007 it’s the exterior brickwork.?
The church, built in 1879 is one of Oxford’s oldest landmarks, set one block off busy M-24 on the corner of Hovey and Dennison Streets.
It features gothic style stained glass windows, working bell tower and beautiful brickwork. It is the brickwork that needs immediate attention now.
Many of the exterior bricks are wearing away’especially on the bell tower.
The congregation has begun a buy-a-brick campaign to cover removing and replacing some of the most worn bricks.
They’re asking for donations of $5 per brick to cover materials and labor on the project. An estimated 500 bricks will be needed.
While members and friends of the church expect to raise most of the funds among themselves they’re hoping others interested in historic preservation might also contribute.
‘Every dollar raised will be greatly appreciated and will go to preserving the church,? says Mike Hartman. Hartman belongs to the committee that oversees the church property.
‘If we raise more than needed for the bricks there is plenty more do be done,? adds Hartman. Some of the wooden trim work is rotting away. Future planned improvements include storm windows for the historic stained glasswork. Decades ago the windows were covered with plastic storm windows.
The plastic has yellowed and gone opaque hiding the beautiful windows from the community.
The windows on the 1960 fellowship hall addition are all single pane, drafty and need replacing or storm windows added.
‘Inside,? says Hartman, ‘the next big projects are building a handicapped accessible bathroom, totally refurbishing the original fellowship hall and replacing the basement classroom flooring.?
Donations can be mailed to Immanuel U.C.C., 1 Hovey Street, Oxford, MI 48371. Please write brick fund on the memo line.
The church has not found a source of grants for restoring the church.
Most public historic preservation ‘grants? are often tax credits. Since religious organizations are exempt from taxes these are of no benefit.
Private historic preservation grants and foundations seldom fund capital improvements and often exclude religious organizations.
The church even falls outside the Oxford Downtown Development Area and is not eligible for a fa’ade improvements matching grant.
For more information visit www.icucc.org or call 248-628-1610.