The last religious service at the church was in 2007 and a year later it was scheduled for demolition.
EWING -- Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was the refurbished interior of the 148-year-old, onetime Ewing Presbyterian Church that is now known as The 1867 Sanctuary at Ewing.
In fact, those who raised funds needed for the creation of the self-sustaining cultural center project are in the midst of a trio of free events scheduled to celebrate the repurposing of the former church at 101 Scotch Rd.
The last religious service at the church was in 2007 and a year later it was scheduled for demolition.
A community supported drive to raise $200,000 for the 1867 Sanctuary's repairs began in 2012 when Preservation New Jersey (PNJ) took the helm and leased the venue for the next 25 years.
Leading the project is PNJ board member and 35-year Ewing resident Helen Kull who, along with her husband, Bob, was putting finishing touches on the sanctuary as late as early November.
A Nov. 2015 photo of the refurbished interior of the 1867 Sanctuary in Ewing. "We've raised $180,000 so far," Kull related as she pointed out the new floor, the donated piano (from the Kulls) and some of the original stained glass windows in the building.
"We removed asbestos in the basement. There were holes in the exterior walls. We replaced the heater and outside window sills. There is new light in the vestibule," Kull said.
"We still need more money. We only have one inside bathroom and an outside portable toilet. If we want to replace the two bathrooms we removed from the basement, it will cost another $100,000 to install."
In order to use the space between the stained glass windows in the 200-seat structure for art exhibits, costly museum molding is needed.
The funding for the cultural center has so far come from more than 1,000 donors "from all over the place," says Kull, who said contributions ranged from $3 to $25,000 each.
The highest donors were invited to a private, Nov. 21 gala unveiling of the new venue which lies at the edge of a surrounding cemetery. A newly painted crosswalk on busy Scotch Road guides visitors to the parking lot across the street.
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/01/saved_ewing_sanctuary_once_sla.html
On Nov. 22, the 1867 Sanctuary held an ecumenical community Thanksgiving service performed by Ewing Township clergy.
Kull said the Dec. 5 "Open House" at the sanctuary will include a Christmas program featuring portions of Handel's "Messiah" plus a "sampler" of performers who may hold concerts at the venue in 2016.
Weddings, concerts, sing-alongs, funerals, interfaith worship, movies, exhibitions, poetry slams and reader's theater could also be held in what Kull says will continue to be a gathering place "enhanced and improved for a 20th century audience."
The repurposed structure will serve not only Ewing and Mercer County, but Bucks County as well.
"The Ewing Arts Council is anxious to work with us. This is the beginning of a vibrant life for an arts center," Kull explained. "I can't tell you how many people told us their memories of being inside this space. The man who put in the alarm said he was married here. A local fireman remembered it. And a woman from Virginia was a significant donor," Kull explained. "It's not too late to contribute," she added.
"Keystone Donors" who contributed $1,867 or more were invited to the Grand Opening Gala on Nov. 21 and listed on a plaque permanently mounted in the building. But contributions of any amount are encouraged. Visit ww.1867sanctuary.org to contribute.
Volunteers who can help should contact 1867sanctuary@preservationnj.org as well.
"We're very excited to be opening this beautiful landmark building to the public," Kull said. "There is still much to be done to fully restore it, but we are thrilled to be moving toward that goal with the building in a functional condition."
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