St. Saviour’s, a Carpenter Gothic church by Richard Upjohn, stood for more than 160 years in Maspeth, Queens.
When the original site the church occupied was sold for development in 2008, a community effort began to save the historic structure. At the request of the local community, the Conservancy assisted in documenting the dismantling of the wooden church. Local groups tried to locate a new site for the structure and raise funds for the building’s reconstruction. Unfortunately, those efforts have been unsuccessful. The historic framing of the church has remained in two trailers in All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.
After a call about the church from a local reporter, Conservancy staff went to the cemetery with a preservation architect and contractor to assess the status of the salvaged framework of the church. The stored old-growth wood appeared to be in good condition, but the challenges of rebuilding the building are significant. A fire in the 1970s led to the modern replacement of many of the church’s original decorative architectural elements, including almost all the windows and doors. A possible reconstruction would require undertaking an extensive assessment of the salvaged wood to identify which pieces could be reused versus what is missing and needs to be newly fabricated. Other work would include locating a new site for the structure, finding a new use, building an adequate foundation, and installing new systems. A local sponsor would be necessary to lead the effort, and substantial fundraising would be required.
We were fortunate to have a sunny and comparatively warm day to survey the material amid the City’s current severe winter weather. It was an amazing opportunity to closely reinspect such old wood. We hope the community can find a way to rebuild and continue the story of this historic structure.
