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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: mbeckwith@dioceseofnewark.org, pboffice@episcopalchurch.org
Subject: Preserve St. John's Episcopal Church
Your Personal Statement
Dear Bishop Beckwith,
I am writing to express my concern about the fate of St. John's Episcopal Church in Jersey City.
St. John's is a unique historical treasure that the Diocese should commit to preserving. It is a stunningly beautiful church that is one of the finest examples of the ecclesiology movement that influenced mid 19th century architecture. It also played a vital role in the
cultural and social role of Jersey City, first as the "Millionaire's Church" that served as the spiritual home to Hudson County's elite professionals, and later as a center of the civil rights movement under the leadership of Reverend Robert Castle.
I am aware that St. John's has been nominated to Jersey City's Municipal Register of historic places. It concerns me greatly that the Diocese has opposed this application. The loss of St. John's would be a crushing blow not only to Jersey City history but to the fortunes of the historic Bergen Hill neighborhood. Currently, that neighborhood is undergoing revitalization that has been spurred by the preservation and restoration of landmarks such as the Beacon (former Jersey City Medical Center) and Library Hall, as well as the restoration of several Victorian style residences. It is unfortunate that while other property owners are preserving historic property to improve a neighborhood, the Diocese is looking to demolish a landmark that would impede such improvement.
I am also concerned that the Diocese has refused to engage in any meaningful cooperation with groups such as the Bergen Hill Neighborhood Association and Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy. These groups have attempted to cooperate with the Diocese for over one year, and the application has been adjourned at the request of the Diocese in return for such cooperation. During this period, the Diocese has not done anything to preserve or stabilize the building. These organizations have offered their time and assistance to help preserve the building. The Diocese should welcome these offers with open arms. Instead, the Diocese stalled the landmarking process for several months until it could purchase opinions from "experts" that justify the demolition of the building. I am particularly concerned with the fact that the Diocese has now refused to meet at all with these groups and reneged on its promise to allow them to bring their own expert engineers to examine the property.
At one time, your Diocese had a large presence in Jersey City and was a strong social and spiritual anchor for the city. In recent years, the Diocese has significantly reduced the number of its parishes, and sold off many of its Jersey City properties. The Diocese has
unfortunately created the appearance of abandoning its urban ministry, particularly in low income and minority areas.
I ask that you immediately take steps to preserve St. John's so that it does not become a casualty of neglect and indifference. To that end, I ask that you take the following steps:
1. Immediately take action to stabilize St. John's against further deterioration. Even if a full restoration is not immediately feasible, interim steps can be taken to prevent further water infiltration and prevent further deterioration of the property. The Diocese's claim that even such interim steps is economically prohibitive is not persuasive, particularly when community groups have volunteered to help fix the church's roof and stabilize the property.
2. Conduct a full accounting as to all objects that were looted by contractors last year. The church was brutally stripped of memorials and other sacred items when it was purportedly undergoing asbestos abatement. Action should be taken to retrieve as many of these objects and to hold accountable anyone who allowed this to occur. I do not understand why the church has essentially looked the other way while its treasures were removed.
3. Meet and conduct good faith dialogue with organizations such as the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and the Bergen Hill Neighborhood Association. These organizations repeatedly have offered their assistance, including their volunteer labor, to help restore the
property. In addition, it is unacceptable that the Diocese has withdrawn its offer to allow these groups to allow their own experts to visit the property. Such bad faith conduct by the Diocese is unacceptable.
St. John's is a treasured landmark in a historic neighborhood. I fully support its preservation and ask that the Diocese cease its obstructionist tactics and instead cooperate with the community to help preserve this landmark. Thank you for your consideration.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
--
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Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1158]
To: mbeckwith@dioceseofnewark.org, pboffice@episcopalchurch.org
Subject: Preserve St. John's Episcopal Church
Your Personal Statement
Dear Bishop Beckwith,
I am writing to express my concern about the fate of St. John's Episcopal Church in Jersey City.
St. John's is a unique historical treasure that the Diocese should commit to preserving. It is a stunningly beautiful church that is one of the finest examples of the ecclesiology movement that influenced mid 19th century architecture. It also played a vital role in the
cultural and social role of Jersey City, first as the "Millionaire's Church" that served as the spiritual home to Hudson County's elite professionals, and later as a center of the civil rights movement under the leadership of Reverend Robert Castle.
I am aware that St. John's has been nominated to Jersey City's Municipal Register of historic places. It concerns me greatly that the Diocese has opposed this application. The loss of St. John's would be a crushing blow not only to Jersey City history but to the fortunes of the historic Bergen Hill neighborhood. Currently, that neighborhood is undergoing revitalization that has been spurred by the preservation and restoration of landmarks such as the Beacon (former Jersey City Medical Center) and Library Hall, as well as the restoration of several Victorian style residences. It is unfortunate that while other property owners are preserving historic property to improve a neighborhood, the Diocese is looking to demolish a landmark that would impede such improvement.
I am also concerned that the Diocese has refused to engage in any meaningful cooperation with groups such as the Bergen Hill Neighborhood Association and Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy. These groups have attempted to cooperate with the Diocese for over one year, and the application has been adjourned at the request of the Diocese in return for such cooperation. During this period, the Diocese has not done anything to preserve or stabilize the building. These organizations have offered their time and assistance to help preserve the building. The Diocese should welcome these offers with open arms. Instead, the Diocese stalled the landmarking process for several months until it could purchase opinions from "experts" that justify the demolition of the building. I am particularly concerned with the fact that the Diocese has now refused to meet at all with these groups and reneged on its promise to allow them to bring their own expert engineers to examine the property.
At one time, your Diocese had a large presence in Jersey City and was a strong social and spiritual anchor for the city. In recent years, the Diocese has significantly reduced the number of its parishes, and sold off many of its Jersey City properties. The Diocese has
unfortunately created the appearance of abandoning its urban ministry, particularly in low income and minority areas.
I ask that you immediately take steps to preserve St. John's so that it does not become a casualty of neglect and indifference. To that end, I ask that you take the following steps:
1. Immediately take action to stabilize St. John's against further deterioration. Even if a full restoration is not immediately feasible, interim steps can be taken to prevent further water infiltration and prevent further deterioration of the property. The Diocese's claim that even such interim steps is economically prohibitive is not persuasive, particularly when community groups have volunteered to help fix the church's roof and stabilize the property.
2. Conduct a full accounting as to all objects that were looted by contractors last year. The church was brutally stripped of memorials and other sacred items when it was purportedly undergoing asbestos abatement. Action should be taken to retrieve as many of these objects and to hold accountable anyone who allowed this to occur. I do not understand why the church has essentially looked the other way while its treasures were removed.
3. Meet and conduct good faith dialogue with organizations such as the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and the Bergen Hill Neighborhood Association. These organizations repeatedly have offered their assistance, including their volunteer labor, to help restore the
property. In addition, it is unacceptable that the Diocese has withdrawn its offer to allow these groups to allow their own experts to visit the property. Such bad faith conduct by the Diocese is unacceptable.
St. John's is a treasured landmark in a historic neighborhood. I fully support its preservation and ask that the Diocese cease its obstructionist tactics and instead cooperate with the community to help preserve this landmark. Thank you for your consideration.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
--
Delivered by CitizenSpeak!
Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1158]
