The Bishop’s Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) provides financial support for church buildings in the diocese needing repairs and renovation, usually with a special focus on emergency and unforeseen needs. Through the BCEF, you can support the critical needs identified by the Bishop.
The third BCEF Call of 2014 is to repair the crumbling façade of St. Peter's in Livingston's narthex and bell tower.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Livingston is a vibrant and active congregation. From active community outreach to vibrant music and youth programs, St. Peter's has been part of the fabric of Livingston for almost 100 years. Since its founding in 1916 as a mission church, St. Peter's has been inviting their neighbors and opening their doors to the community. In fact, a prominent part of their Mission Statement is "to invite others into our fellowship of worship and service."
The people of St. Peter's practice living into that mission statement as much as they can. In recent years however, they have encountered a significant problem which keeps them from physically being able to do so - the crumbling façade of the narthex and bell tower of their church.
The town has notified St. Peter's of this concern and the vestry and property committee have been aggressive in attempts to remediate the issue and have repairs completed before a potential collapse occurs. Prior attempts to manage repairs have proven unsuccessful, and St. Peter’s has undertaken a large campaign to refurbish the church. It is estimated that the total cost of this project will be close to $80,000. By utilizing funds from the Ward J Herbert Fund, their own capital, and this BCEF Call, St. Peter’s hopes to completely restore these façades and eliminate any concerns that the town has regarding the stability of the structure.
Please consider helping St. Peter's, Livingston with your generosity for this third call of the BCEF for 2014.
Peace,
Mark M. Beckwith
Bishop of Newark
