PLEASE
HELP
SAVE
OUR
CHURCH
Today, the Bristol Hills Historical Society’s 1846 Bristol Center Church looks almost as it did at the end of the Civil War, when the congregation replaced eight clear windows with memorial stained-glass windows that the respected preservation experts at Bero Architecture called “extremely valuable and irreplaceable.” That assessment was part of an evaluation of the church’s condition that is serving as a roadmap for the work needed to preserve this Bristol Valley landmark.
These colorful and precious windows are in desperate need of repair and additional protection. The Historical Society has retained the services of a reputable and experienced company from Buffalo to begin the work in the spring of 2026. This will be quite expensive — just one of many expenses we have been obligated to undertake so that this site on the National Register of Historic Places does not go the way of so many architectural and cultural treasures in our region.
We have launched a rescue mission dubbed “See the Past, Save the Glass.” Our immediate goal is to raise $75,000 to make the needed repairs to the windows, each of which is a tribute to long-ago donors and community leaders, along with emergency repairs to the church’s foundation and exterior. At least two of the windows will have to be removed completely and taken back to the workshop to remove the lead framing material, flatten the bulging glass, and repair a few broken pieces. Additionally, two of the windows have small louvered windows that no longer open because the weight of the glass and lead has caused the whole window to sag. Archival glass of the same era will be used to replace cracked sections and vented, specially tempered glass coverings will be added to the outside of each window to prevent breakage from tree branches.
The foundation work is beginning even sooner, in the fall of 2025, to replace rotted timbers in the south wall. The original settlers had an argument over the building materials that were used for the basement. Half preferred wood and half chose stones. Just like the little piggy who built a brick house, the stones were the better choice. The south wall is believed to be a repaired timber wall, but the stones and mortar that were used have deteriorated. A foundation and timber frame expert has been retained to repair them.
All of this work must take place before the exterior gets a desperately needed paint job to keep the wood from deteriorating further. This follows a 2024 replacement of the roof, which had begun to leak. Unfortunately, that was not done soon enough to prevent damage to the centuries-old plaster ceiling, which now must undergo extensive repairs.
Since the Historical Society was deeded this building 50 years ago, we have paid for its upkeep and maintenance using private donations (some of them in the five figures), member dues, and in recent years an annual appropriation from the Town of Bristol. Clearly, we have entered a new and more intensive phase that has already exhausted our church-repair coffers. So this $75,000 campaign is needed to move forward.
There are three ways to help.
First, please join our society, if you are not already a member. Though annual dues are quite modest, starting at $15, we depend on this base of community support to sustain our work, including the many popular and free programs we produce every year. Click here to join or renew your membership.
Next, please consider making a tax-deductible donation either by credit card or via check. All of the information is at this link.
Finally, please pitch in to help by rolling up your sleeves. We need helpers to clean up the church grounds and inside the church. Find out when the next work crew is scheduled by emailing us at bristolhillshistory@gmail.com.
Thank you for caring about this historic landmark in our midst.