The Oldest Cobblestone church needs you

The Webster Baptist Church in Webster, NY. It is beautiful cobblestone church on South Avenue, with its stately bell tower, has stood proudly in our village since the mid-1800s.

What you probably didn’t know is that the Webster Baptist Church is actually famous for precisely the reason it’s so beautiful: it’s the only cobblestone building in the country that’s still being used for its original purpose.

The new cobblestone building was built on the same site and dedicated on Jan. 1, 1857. Most of the field stones were donated by citizens of the community, and the cobblestones were gathered by members of the congregation along the shores of Lake Ontario. Each was passed through a hole in a board to make sure it was of a certain shape and size.

In recognition of its rich history, the Webster Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. That designation alone illustrates how important this building, and its history, are to our village.

Now, it needs our help.

It’s been a long time since the Webster Baptist Church has seen any major renovations, and it’s really beginning to show its age. The stained glass windows all need repairing, to the tune of $8,000 to $10,000 each. In many places, the cobblestone facade needs some professional attention. And the church entrance has to be updated with a ramp or new sidewalk to accommodate handicapped parishioners. And all of these expenses are piled on top of the regular costs for upkeep and utilities.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated by the community in which the church lives. They are proud of this structure both for its community and a symbol of community spirit. It is a national treasure that with your help will remain an reminder of what's possible when people come together in spirit and conviction of a singular purpose - to keep faith in our hearts.

Thank you for your donation!

Thank you to Missy Rosenberry, Blogger for Webster on the Web for this write up.

Webster on the Web