Congregational Church Launches

 $1 Million Campaign For New Church House

By Kaaren Valenta

The Newtown Congregational Church has launched a $1 million fundraising drive to build a new church house to be attached to the church at 14 West Street.  Last weekend Bob Hall, chairman of the fundraising committee, and artist David Merrill – who also is a member of the congregation – hung a painting done by Mr Merrill to keep track of the pledges.

The church has already been promised $545,000 by the individuals on the 35-member committee and the nine-member building committee.

“There have been some very generous donations,” Mr Hall said. “This is a very important drive because this is a $2 million building project.”

Mr Hall said the congregation had about $400,000 in savings when it launched the campaign on October 14. That, plus $1 million in fundraising, and an anticipated mortgage increase of $600,000 from Newtown Savings Bank, would complete the $2 million project, he said.

Other officers of the fundraising committee include Paul Gehrett, vice chairman; Ed Newton, recordkeeper, and Peg Forbell, financial secretary.

Recently the church’s expansion proposal gained Conservation Commission approval for the wetland aspects of the project. The church expansion plan still requires a site plan approval from the Borough Zoning Commission.

The new church house will replace the existing church house at 41-A Main Street. That property was sold to Newtown Savings Bank with the church reserving a five-year lease, up in 2002, and the right to renew for five more years.

Mr Hall said the committee hoped the expansion project would be completed in 2003.