Repairs underway at First Congregational Church

BARKHAMSTED — Construction work has begun at the First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, located at 6 Old Town Hall Road. The firm retained to prepare a structural analysis in the fall of 2017 was GNCB Consulting Engineers, P.C., while the contractor on site is Kronenberger & Sons Restoration, Inc.

Church members recently received an $18,000 grant from the Eva M. Coty Fund, a fund managed by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Inc. to support the cost of roof repairs so that the church can be reopened to the public. The grant will cover a portion of the costly and extensive structural and roof repairs.

One of the stipulations of the grant received from the community foundation is that it must be used by Dec. 31. In August 2017, GNGB engineers found a failed timber, which is a fulllength truss tension member spanning almost 36 feet from the east to west walls on the north side of the church.

In addition to the truss bottom chord failures, they observed a shear failure in one of the truss bottom chord tie beams that has progressed since their initial site survey. They recommended that the congregation not use the church structure until the issues are resolved.

With the Community Foundation grant and earlier grants from the state Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Economic and Community Development, the church is now able to cover a major portion of the repair costs, but more donations are needed.

A grass roots capital campaign was initiated this spring to request contributions from the community.

Sandy Davis, moderator of the church, said, “We are so fortunate to have the confidence and support of the State Historic Preservation Office and now the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. It has taken all of our internal resources to put together this project.”

“We appreciate the Town of Barkhamsted allowing us to use the community room for our Sunday Church services,” said the Rev. Susan Wyman. “Because the community room is located on Route 44 close to the entrance of the town landfill, we are even more grateful to be allowed to post our church temporary sign on the property so visitors will feel welcome here at our church any time. We would love to have them come, learn about the town and church history, bring friends and children.”

For more information call Wyman at 860-379-7300. Messages on the church phone at 860-379-5864 are checked once a week. For directions or information visit: www.barkhamstedfirstchurch.org

Contributed photo Construction work has begun at the First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, located at 6 Old Town Hall Road.