FRIENDS OF OLD DUTCH

Looking to the Future

 

Dear Friends,

 

I come to you with wonderful news! After years of waiting and wondering, monitoring and investigation, the restoration of the Old Dutch Church is soon to begin. We have accepted the bid of the Western Building Restoration Company of Albany, New York. This has been approved by our architects and the State of New York, who administers our EPF grant. Within the month, work should commence to repair the east wall of the sanctuary that has been problematic since 1854, when the steeple crashed over the roof. This repair will solve the "leaning wall" problem for all time.

 

Thanks to the work of the Restoration Committee, the Consistory, and the Friends of Old Dutch organization, while we do not have the total amount to pay for this project, we are well on our way. The EPF grant from the state will pay for half of the expense, which will run around $300,000. Community members and foundations have been most generous, as well as a matching fund-raising grant of $25,000 from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. Our present challenge, which we present to you, members and friends of Old Dutch Church, is to match this Wilson grant. For every dollar we raise, they will give us a dollar, thus doubling our gifts.

 

We ask you now to consider giving a gift of any size, so that we can match this challenge grant and thus work to complete this project. We are excited that we are finally at this place and we look forward to working together in this present challenge. We are so fortunate to blessed with assets that enable us to minister and worship, but the restoration project goes beyond what our normal budget can allow, without sacrificing our church program.

 

We need your help! Please consider a special gift, so that we can meet our goal of matching the Wilson Grant. Enclosed you will find an envelope earmarked for contributions to our Restoration Fund should you be inclined to make a donation. Thank you in advance for your support and participation in the life and worship of Old Dutch.

 

Yours in God’s service,

 

The Rev. Kenneth L. Walsh, Dominie/Pastor

 

 

MISSION

The Friends of Old Dutch is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to raising funds for the ongoing maintenance, restoration and preservation of the historic Old Dutch Church landmark in Kingston, New York.

 

BOARD MEMBERS

Patricia M. Allen, Seth Allen, Thomas Palmer, Robert Slater, 
Marvin Schildhorn, Roger Wells and Rev. Kenneth L. Walsh

 

FRIENDS OF OLD DUTCH

Betsy Arlantico, Joel Brink, Gene Cooley, R. Abel Garraghan, Victoria St. John Gilligan, Matthew Hall, Kenneth Hyatt, Anne Ingalsbe, Amos Newcomb, Kevin J. Quilty and Robert J. Ryan.

 

CONTACT

For additional information about the Friends of Old Dutch and our mission and to make a donation, please e-mail us.