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ST. MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE HIGHLANDS
1 Chestnut Street,
Cold Spring
Fr. Shane Scott-Hamblen, Rector, 265-2539
Mr. Ron Greene, Senior Warden, 265-3624
www.stmaryscoldspring. dioceseny.org
Sun. Masses: 8am (spoken); 10:30am (sung); Sunday school in Parish Hall during 10:30 mass
Thurs. Fri. & Sun.: AA in parish hall, 8pm
Sat. July 19 - Doansburg Chamber Ensemble: Trio of Flute & 2 Guitars, 8pm, $9/$8 seniors & students
St. Mary in the Highlands Launches "Save Our
Steeple" Campaign
Well over a century of volatile weather has taken a toll on the historic steeple and tower of St. Mary's in the Highlands
Church at the corner of Main Street and Chestnut Street (9D) in Cold Spring. Over time a large volume of rainwater has migrated
to the interior of the granite steeple and tower, destroying the interior plaster work. The damage was so extensive the sacristy
had to be completely gutted. The church lacks a functional sacristy at this point; the rector prepares for services in the organ
room, a cramped space used for storing supplies and cleaning products.
In recent years water has also found its way into the church itself and now threatens the interior walls and the organ
console. If allowed to continue, the freezing and thawing of the water within the walls will eventually compromise the structural
integrity of the steeple and tower. This grand edifice is in desperate need of repointing to prevent rainwater from entering the
structure. Once the exterior mortar is repaired the sacristy is in need of complete restoration.
Rector Father Shane Scott-Hamblen feels challenged by the situation but is determined to save the steeple: "We have to
repair over 100 years of wear from highlands weather - storms, high winds, freezing rain and intense heat and humidity - all at
once. It would be a pity to lose the steeple, the most beautiful and distinctive feature of our church. We must overturn every stone
to raise enough money to make the necessary repairs; it will take time and effort from our dedicated parishioners but we are
confident that we will eventually raise enough money to restore the steeple and sacristy to their former glory."
Built in 1868, St. Mary in the Highlands Church was a collective gift of Robert Parker Parrott, Gouverneur Kemble,
Gouverneur Paulding, and Frederick P. James. The three acre lot for the church and much funding was the gift of Robert Parker Parrott,
long time superintendent of the West Point Foundry and inventor of the famous Parrott rifle and corresponding ordnance
employed extensively during the Civil War. This year St. Mary's in the Highlands celebrates the 140th Anniversary of the building of
the church.
The cost of the restoration work will be approximately $450,000. The St. Mary's vestry has appointed a Steeple Committee
to initiate a Save Our Steeple capital campaign to raise the requisite funds. Several fund-raising events, private donations and
grant applications have already yielded results totaling over $155,000.
Senator Vincent Leibell secured St. Mary's in the Highlands an appropriation in the 2008 NYS budget for $20,000 towards
the restoration and preservation of the Steeple. Senator Leibell is well known for his support of local historic sites and his hard
work to secure funds for their upkeep and preservation. Every lawmaker in New York State that has anything to do with Putnam
County and Cold Spring was contacted and given documents explaining the need and plans for restoration. Senator Leibell was the
first to respond with a letter of support and then surprised St. Mary's with this award in May 2008.
The New York Landmark Conservancy has awarded St. Mary's $25,000 for St. Mary's Save Our Steeple campaign.
The Conservancy is a privately funded organization dedicated to aiding historic sites in preserving their history. Choosing to
sponsor St. Mary's with 25% of their total budget is a very strong statement of support. The $25,000 is a matching grant, requiring
St. Mary's to raise a comparable dollar amount. Senator Leibell's appropriation puts them well ahead on that front.
The third award comes from the Episcopal Diocese of New York with a grant of $100,000. Mr. Michael Rebic of the Office
of Property Support championed the cause and secured the award for St. Mary's. The grant will be given over the two years
the project is estimated to take. This fulfills the remainder of the matching grant condition of the Conservancy, and also adds to
the strength of support needed for future grant submissions.
The overall Save Our Steeple campaign will last two years. The St. Mary's Steeple committee will continue to aggressively
pursue grants and donations during that time. Information brochures and posters on the campaign will be distributed throughout
the community and press updates regarding the progress of the campaign will be issued on a regular basis. St. Mary's in the
Highland is among the most beautiful buildings in Cold Spring and the church's lovely grounds serve the community throughout the
year we encourage everyone who loves Cold Spring and it's unique history to help in whatever way possible.
For further information on St. Mary's in the Highlands and for details on how to donate to this most worthy cause please
visit the parish website: www.stmaryscoldspring.dioceseny.org
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