Richard Rauner’s Gift Of Remembrance Helps Fund Methodist Renovations

By Jan Howard

The Newtown United Methodist Church looks fresh and new following the completion of renovations and improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building. Final touches were being made on the paint on the front doors this week.

 The newly renovated building was dedicated on September 17.

Among the dedications were: the narthex, in memory of Michael DeFrance; the nursery, in memory of Daisy Knight Maurer; the choir room and church office, in memory of George D. Klein; and Fellowship Hall, now named Rauner Hall, in memory of Richard W. Rauner.

The sanctuary and Fellowship Hall renovations were made possible through a donation of an insurance policy from the late Richard W. Rauner, according to the Rev E. Sue Klein. An active member of the congregation, popular post office clerk and long-time resident of Sandy Hook, Mr Rauner died in January 1999, a month after heart transplant surgery.

The sanctuary was finished about a year ago with the nursery and restrooms completed a couple of months later. Work on Rauner Hall was finished in the spring, and the new entryway, begun in July, is now completed. The choir room and church office renovations were completed three years ago.

The Wesley Learning Center also was the recipient of a gift from Mr Rauner to renovate its playground.

An attractive front entryway now greets parishioners and guests to the church. The old porch at the front of the church was torn down, a smaller porch added, and a new, expanded entryway added with handicapped accessibility. The enlarged entryway, according to Rev Klein, was to accommodate the church’s larger number of parishioners.

The ceiling of the sanctuary was raised and completely replaced, with recessed lighting and ceiling fans. Rev Klein said the ceiling had been lowered years ago during the oil crisis. New carpeting was installed and the walls painted.

Rauner Hall was painted and flooring and ceiling tiles replaced. Walls in the hall were torn down and the room reconfigured to accommodate a new, enlarged nursery area and modern, handicapped accessible restrooms.

The sanctuary area of the church was built in 1850 across the road. It was moved to its current location in 1972. The rear addition was added, and Wesley Hall, to the left of the church, was dedicated in 1992 and now houses the Wesley Learning Center and church school classrooms.