Dutch Neck church to unveil renovated buildings

Four-year project cost $1 million.

By: Jill Matthews
   WEST WINDSOR — After four years of renovations at a cost of more than $1 million, the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church at the corner of Village and South Mill roads is ready to unveil its three improved buildings at a ceremony next weekend.
   The church will host a rededication ceremony as part of its regular worship service at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 12. The public is invited to attend.
   While all three buildings at the church site were renovated, the most dramatically renovated area is the sanctuary.
   "We felt the sanctuary was something of an icon in the community and thought that it should be preserved," said the Rev. Floyd Churn.
   "We developed the vision of, rather than building a new sanctuary or redoing it exactly as it was, of transforming the sanctuary — improving it in practical ways and in ways that enhance our worship," said the Rev. Churn.
   Over the years, the sanctuary became more "visually busy" as the church rebuilt the choir loft and put in an organ, among other things, said Kyle Van Dyke, a church member and architect who created the church design. When it was decided that the sanctuary would undergo renovations, it was also determined that a much simpler and more flexible design would better serve the church, he said.
   "The whole intent of the design was sort of being able to visually clean it up, focus it more," said Mr. Van Dyke.
   With that in mind, Mr. Van Dyke created several design elements intended to simplify the space and provide more room for worship activities. Mr. Van Dyke’s plans included the use of dark carpet to draw the eye to the front, which was painted with cream-colored walls with white trimming. Angled front panels were also used to draw attention to some of the main parts of the sanctuary — the pulpit, communion table, cross and baptismal font.
   "The whole idea is to take people out of the busyness of their lives," said Mr. Van Dyke.
   The sanctuary was also badly in need of structural support and aesthetic improvements, the Rev. Churn said. The 200-year-old foundation was built on fieldstones. As part of the renovation, the fieldstones were dug out section by section and replaced with a new foundation. The roof and the studs that support the roof were also in need of replacement and reinforcement.
   The two other buildings on the church grounds also faced a slew of renovations. The renovations were completed over four summers.
   Other work at the three buildings included upgrading electrical service with complete rewiring of the building, replacing the church’s large windows, repairing the wall frame, adding new sheathing and siding, renovating the existing bathroom, rebuilding and repairing the organ, and adding air conditioning.
   During summer renovations, services were held in the church’s education building, Fellowship Hall.
   Major renovations to the structure haven’t been done in about three decades, according to Mr. Van Dyke.
   The church conducted a three-year "Vision Initiative" capital campaign to raise money for the project. Congregation members contributed roughly $750,000 through their pledges, while the church contributed a few hundred thousand dollars it had in reserves, according to the Rev. Churn. At the end of the three years, the church had a fourth-year pledge drive that raised another $200,000 to complete the work, he said.
   The church has been in Dutch Neck since it opened its doors in 1816. By 1885, the basic structure of the church as it exists today was in place.