By Dan King, Manchester Newspapers (NY).
A small congregation of Presbyterians is currently without a full-time home.
The First Presbyterian Church of Whitehall closed its doors in July, after the Albany Presbytery – which oversees the church – became aware of some code issues at the church, which was built in 1848.
“What we were told was that the Presbytery became aware that it had several churches in the North Country that are very old and that they needed to be responsible for them,” said Carol Greenough, treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Whitehall.
In July a meeting was held with the congregation, Rev. Jerry McKinney, who is the minister of the Granville Presbyterian Church, and members of the Albany Presbytery, who inspected the building. At that point, Greenough said, it was determined that many parts of the building did not meet code, including the ramp at the back of the church, the heating unit in the congregation room, the fuel tank, the bell tower and some lighting issues.
In 1931, New York State widened Broadway, and cut into part of the church. Greenough said that may have had an impact on some of the code issues at the church.
“They wanted us out in four days, but there was no way we could get everything out in that time,” Greenough said. “We were able to talk them into 10.”
After that, a special meeting was called for the entire congregation, which totals about a dozen people. Greenough said all members of the congregation were determined to remain Presbyterian, and “there was no dissent” about it.
“It’s a very sensitive time,” said Jane Gendron, a member of the congregation. “The Presbytery will stabilize the church. That’s all the information we have been given at this point.”