Cold Spring, May 2009 – The board of The Chapel of Our Lady Restoration is enormously proud to announce the opening of the Chancery, the just-completed support building, at its annual benefit lawn party on Saturday, June 13, from 5:00 to 7:00. An exhibit on the life of this treasured landmark, with rarely seen photographs and other material from the archives, will be on view.

A cherished ecumenical site for events, especially weddings, a popular music series and other cultural activities, the chapel has available for the first time restrooms, changing room, and meeting and archival space. “The foremost objective was to provide basic amenities while altering the setting as little as possible,” said Peter Smith, architect of the Chancery. His design, responding to cut stone foundation walls, the remains of a mid-19th century addition destroyed by fire in 1927, “makes it visually part of the landscape and thus does not compete with nor intrude upon views of the chapel, nor does it stylistically mimic the chapel whose significance lies in its singular authenticity,” Mr. Smith said. A garden roof and small courtyard further integrate the building.

It is “one of the most beautiful, perfectly proportioned contemporary buildings on the Hudson, or anywhere else,” said local resident Joe Chapman, a retired architect.

An Empire State Development Corporation grant, sponsored by then Governor George Pataki, provided funding for construction, along with private contributions. The New York State Council on the Arts, in recognition of design excellence, funded the architectural phase. Mayor Anthony Phillips, County Legislator Vincent Tamagna and State Senator Vincent Leibell were instrumental along the way.

Mr. Smith, who lived in Garrison and had an office there for 20 years before moving his practice to Newburgh, specializes in the design of unique houses, master planning and small institutional projects as well as historic preservation. He received his degree from Pratt Institute, where he also did post-graduate field work in 17th and 18th century American architecture, planning and design. He has been a recipient of the Rome Prize Fellowship in Architecture from the American Academy in Rome. Continental C.S. Builders LLC of Goshen, New York, headed by Kris Pavic, served as contractors for the building. Their work is noteworthy for its European craftsmanship.

Overlooking the Hudson River and opposite West Point, the chapel itself is a Greek Revival gem built in 1833. It was abandoned in 1906 and later rendered a ruin by fire. In the early 1970s, “A Methodist, a Lutheran, a Jew, a Presbyterian or two, a scattering of Episcopalians and a handful of Catholics,” as a contemporary newspaper account put it, came together to buy it from the New York Archdiocese and restore the building. It was rededicated as an ecumenical site in September 1977 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The volunteer board of the nonprofit The Chapel of Our Lady Restoration, Inc., oversees maintenance of the building and grounds, a major responsibility given landmark status, raises funds for ongoing operations, schedules and coordinates all events, and produces the music series, free to the public, along with all supporting advertising, design and publicity.

To make reservations and purchase tickets for the benefit party, call 845-265-5537. The chapel and chancery are located at 45 Market Street in the village of Cold Spring, adjacent to the Metro North train station.

Home