|
It is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic portion of the church, more specifically, the graceful and exquisite sanctuary. As a landmark of the Napa community the majestic steeple captures the eye and awe of tourists and locals alike. It is likely one of the most photographed buildings in Napa County and a treasure that needs to be protected in perpetuity.
Originally constructed in 1874 this Victorian Gothic style leviathan is a testimony to the quality craftsmanship of the time. The beautiful stained glass and lead windows highlight the magnificent sanctuary. The pews, balcony, railings, intricate light fixtures with massive supports all are representative of the dignity and beauty that many parishioners hold near and dear. A place to worship, to celebrate, to mourn and most of all to embrace the presence of God in a special and unique manner that is distinctive and personal to each member of the congregation.
In the years to come this "historic" building must be allowed to continue as an important part of The First Presbyterian Church’s congregation and the Napa community. Unfortunately, it is an old wooden building that requires continuous upkeep, repair and general maintenance in order to survive. At the present time, much of this has been done by the Church and its many volunteers. Extensive repairs (like the copper roof) have been made and will provide for many years of "life" for the structure. There are, however, countless other things that need attention. These range from earthquake retrofitting to the general, ongoing preservation of the building, furnishings and equipment. All of this requires a lot of money and as time goes on will only increase. Hence, the focus and purpose of the First Presbyterian Church Preservation Foundation.
The foundation’s goal is to provide long-term funding to preserve and protect this priceless landmark. To this end, we have organized the "Foundation" to be the repository of donations, gifts and bequests to hold in trust for the benefit of this "historic" masterpiece of spiritual architecture. To date, we have received contributions in excess of $100,000 and have been fortunate to donate $15,000 for earthquake studies and another $5,000 for the painting of the interior of the sanctuary. These are concrete examples of contributions the Foundation has made and will continue to make in order to preserve the sanctuary. Our goal is to eventually have enough money so that we will be able to use only the income earned for ongoing expenses. In the future, as our reserves increase, we will be able to fund other projects and even more importantly, be here to see that the Napa First Presbyterian’s Church historic sanctuary lives on forever.
How can you help? If you are concerned about the sanctuary, its preservation and ongoing maintenance you can help us by including the Foundation as a beneficiary in your estate plan, making donations to the Foundation, or donating your time to help with the administration of the Foundation.
We need the help of this congregation and the Napa community at large to insure that the First Presbyterian Church’s historical sanctuary remains a viable entity forever.
The Board of Directors of the First Presbyterian Church Preservation Foundation, Lee Broad, Jay Gardner, James V. Jones, Jim Nord, Don Ridenhour and Lisa Tarner encourage you to participate in the preservation of the First Presbyterian Church Historic Building.
|