Union University Church in Alfred.

Courtesy The New York Landmarks Conservancy

ALFRED — A historic church has received a grant to help with roof repairs.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy awarded $20,000 to Union University Church as part of its latest round of Sacred Sites Grants. The award was one of 15 totaling $244,500 across the state. Landmarks Conservancy officials said the grant will focus on roof replacement with steeple louver repairs.

“Religious buildings are important because they tell us about history, architectural development, beauty and hold so many communal memories,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “But congregations, including these recent grant recipients, also serve an important role today by providing their communities with a variety of social service and cultural programs.”

The building has a long history in the village, once serving as the First Seventh Day Baptist Church. The circa 1853 building is located in the Alfred Village Historic District and was built in the Late Greek Revival and Early Gothic Revival styles. The Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church initiated the formation of the village of Alfred, Alfred University — the second-oldest coeducational college in the nation — and Alfred State College. The church was instrumental in creating the Underground Railroad stations in Alfred and in Milton, Wis. In 1929 the building was gutted by fire, and the sanctuary was restored the following year with new windows and an organ. Ownership was transferred to the present congregation, the Union University Church, in 2021.

Activities at the church’s campus reach about 75 people a year outside of membership, including the Alfred Office of the Aging senior nutrition luncheon three days a week, weekly AA meetings, a Japanese martial-arts class, and Scouts BSA troop meetings.

The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, along with technical assistance, and workshops. Since 1986, the program has pledged over 1,700 grants totaling over $14.4 million to more than 870 religious institutions statewide, helping fund over $818 million in repair and restoration projects.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in nearly 2,000 restoration projects throughout New York. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.