Updating an historic property
added June 5th, 2008When it comes to making capital improvements, churches often take a while to consider their options and make their plans. Built in 1835, historic First Congregational Church in Jefferson, Ohio had once hosted abolitionist John Brown in its pulpit. The oldest in Ohio’s Western Reserve, the church was well-preserved — but their last major remodeling project was completed in 1910. For a long time, the 191-member congregation had talked about the need to update the building and improve accessibility.
So after years of planning, First Congregational finally decided to update their building with a $350,000 project that enhanced the sanctuary, added handicapped restrooms, and increased space by 2,900-quare-feet. In addition to new classrooms and a pastor’s office, the
church added a ramped hallway to allow easier access to the sanctuary, and an elevator to ensure everyone could reach the building’s lower level. First Congregational met with the Cornerstone Fund almost a year before construction to determine how much they could afford, and to seek assistance through the entire building and borrowing process. By choosing a loan from the Cornerstone Fund, the church was able to
begin construction immediately — and a successful capital campaign enabled the church to begin reducing its debt quickly.
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