One historic Cayuga County church has received a $6,000 grant to help repair its steeple.
The First Presbyterian Church of King Ferry has been named as one of 22 winners of the New York Landmarks Conservancy‘s Sacred Sites Grants, which are given to maintain historic religious institutions in the state.
“Our grants help maintain historic religious institutions that often anchor their communities,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “Our recent grantees have food, cultural, and outreach programs that reach well beyond their congregations.”
The congregation was first organized as a Congregational church in 1798 before permanently affiliating itself with the Cayuga Presbytery in 1868. They would worship at a house on the property until the church structure was completed in 1847. Significant renovations would then take place in 1872.
The congregation serves roughly 150 community members through events such as its bi-monthly blood drives and pancake breakfasts. The church also hosts the town’s annual Memorial Day service, and the site is used for The Genoa Historical Association’s annual “Over 80 Birthday Party” ice cream social.
Since 1986, the conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program has pledged over 1,600 matching grants to 840 religious institutions, totaling nearly $15 million.
