UTICA — In this season of giving, Tabernacle Baptist Church, 13 Clark Place, recognizes the gifts they received in the completion of Phase 2 of the restoration of the exterior of their sanctuary, listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings.

The gift of partnership was real in the matching grant provided by the New York State Environmental Projection Fund matching grant, which was awarded in the 2019 round. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 were guided by Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation, based in Albany. PCC Contracting Inc., based in Schenectady was also a partner and orchestrated its own people and the work of subcontractors.

A 2006 Structural Analysis of Tabernacle’s building sits in Pastor Debbie Kelsey’s office. As she reflects on descriptions of the building’s disrepair in that time, she marvels at the hope and determination of that season’s church leaders — especially Jack Cappelli, who was convinced that, through partnership, the Meacham-designed sanctuary could remain a viable structure. He and then Pastor Rev. Dr. Mark Caruana got the ball rolling.

Tabernacle is an outgrowth of the first church established in Utica in 1801, the First Welsh Baptist Church. The church building has been a landmark in downtown Utica at the corner of King and Hopper streets since 1865.

Every week, a portion of the church’s offerings go to fund the ongoing restoration work. A “church son” who lives in another state but who is a very successful businessperson has made contributions toward the work, as well.

As 2022 came to a close, final touches were put on the 2-year work of masonry, roofing, and water-runoff management. Stained-glass windows are visible from the street. A cross again adorns the tip of the sanctuary roof on Hopper Street. Those who walk by know this is a flourishing place, contributing to the beauty and historic nature of downtown Utica, church officials said.

Tabernacle often hosts community groups in the auditorium and education section of the building built in 1901 called Thorn Chapel. In 2023, the congregation plans to apply for another matching grant to replace side-aisle roofs on the sanctuary and flat roofs on Thorn Chapel.