BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH
Bethesda Episcopal Church on Washington
Street in Saratoga Springs, a block up from
Broadway, is planning the construction of a
new multi-purpose building that will hold
offices and rooms for use by the church community.
The new structure will be built on a 0.68-
acre plot of land next to the church. Ground
will be broken in the spring, church officials
said.
The parish received approval from the
Saratoga Springs Planning Board in early
September for the new parish house, which
will adjoin the existing church, a stately stone
building built in 1840.
Dean Marshall J. Vang, interim rector said
it will house parish administrative offices, a
dining hall with capacity for 200, a chapel,
early childhood education facilities and a
commercial rental space.
He said the building will allow for the parish
to focus on connecting with the community.
“Christ’s miracle at the healing springs of
Bethesda impels us to focus on missions that
heal families and communities. Hence our
focus on these priorities for the new facility,”
said Vang.
Bethesda sold its existing parish house and
former rectory. They also have a pending sale for a third property it owns near Saratoga Lake,
according to Parish Building Committee Chairman
Gordon Boyd. Boyd said designers for the
project are John G. Waite Associates of Albany.
Boyd said they have guided the design with
Gothic revival elements. The new wing keeps in
line with the original church design by Richard
Upjohn, and its addition by A. Page Brown.
“The new facility is the first major change
in Bethesda’s configuration in more than a
century,” said Boyd.
Michael Ingersoll from the LA Group,
Landscape Architecture and Engineering will
be implementing the design for the four-story
mixed-use center.
“The new building is modern, but respectful
of the church, using similar materials and
colors,” Ingersoll said.
The Bethseda Parish also plans to improve
on its current building through a fundraising
effort with the help of the New York Landmarks
Conservancy, which awarded a matching
grant to the parish this year.
Through the grant the church plans to cofund
a condition assessment that will examine
key elements such as conditions of the roof,
plumbing, electrical, accessibility measures
and other infrastructure.
Boyd said the goal is for the new building
to be up and running by 2017.
Photo Courtesy John G. Waite Associates