Wonderful post on the history of your new/old church building.
Much of our vernacular architecture in the Chattahoochee River Valley is Greek Revival - particularly public buildings and churches. 1850 is a good date for quality Greek Revival design (I'm sorry - I forgot - where did you say you are located? NY?)
I worked on an architectural history project back in the 80s on a Greek Revival church building in Alabama. Be sure to take lots of "before" pictures when the underbrush gets cleared away. Inside and out. Get closeups of any detail such as woodwork, window casings, etc.
Somebody also ought to research your tax and deed offices for any documentation of the church building. You may be surprised how much information you can get.
I know it's hard to turn aside from the hard work of fundraising and renovation to document this stuff, but it will be valuable later.
The new 'old' church is situated in Watervliet, NY, home to the Army's first Arsenal. Earlier this week, I went down to the City Hall and Library to research records. What a disappointment! Little or nothing from which to draw information. I did learn, however, that Watervliet was incorporated as a town less than 50 years before the church was built. The town then became a city.
The gentleman from the NYS Register did his Masters Degree on Greek Revival Architecture and has now taken a personal interest in the church. He pointed out that the foundation includes poured concrete and steel beams, something not consistent with 1850 architecture. He personally plans to pursue this thrugh newspaper clippings, over the next week.
Thank you for your prayers! Ultimately, if necessary, I can imagine Father removing the communion rail (it has never been used in the Maronite Rite), leaving the original Sanctuary intact, and constructing 'over' it, the Middle Eastern architectural style that befits Maronite architectural design. In this manner, he has not destroyed anything, thus enabling him to benefit from the pawltry funds provided by the state. Those can be used to replace antiquated windows in the lower portion of the church and the adjacent rectory. This church was built before electricity! That too needs to be addressed.
In the background of the Sancturary, are the remnants of a magnificent pipe organ. The organist has already explored these and discovered that the cost of rehabilitating them is prohibitive. Perhaps, between the fundraisers and he state funding, some monies can be alocated for this endeavor.
The stained glass windows are, for the most part, still intact. They are 'Victorian' in design (at least that is what I have been told). They also bear the names of the families who donated them to the Methodist/Episcopal Church. With time, the parish plans to replace them with stained glass windows of 'our' (the Maronite) saints - St. Charbel, St. Rafqa, St. Nimatullah, St. Maron, St. John Maron. It is a natural evolution of a church from one denomination (Metodist/Episcopal) into another (Maronite Catholic). Right now, the 'fly in the ointment' is the Sanctuary and its future design. The Registry wants to see that design before voting on the approbation of monies towards the church.
I have every faith and confidence that St. Charbel, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow, will guide us through this process.
Thank you, AnAmericanMother, for your ongoing testimony of what drove you to the Catholic Church. May our Lord and His Blessed Mother, bless you abundantly as you continue your journey of faith.