Last year, Fordham University received a grant to renovate the University Church. The church is almost 200 hundred years old and requires more careful renovation than newer buildings. The church was declared a New York City landmark in 1970 and boasts the old St. Patrick’s Cathedral altar and stained-glass windows donated by King Louis Philippe I of France.
The restoration will primarily surround the church’s roof and facade. The aging roof was allowing water in, which would then infiltrate the plaster, causing it to swell. As this cycle of swelling and drying repeated, the plaster began to crack and flake off.
“Because this is a landmark building, all features are being restored to their original condition, including the historical gargoyles,” said Marcela Sino, director of Capital Programs and Planning.
The restoration should take around a year, with the scaffolding remaining up throughout. Some students have expressed displeasure with the construction.
“It’s very inconvenient when I try to walk to McShane,” said Nate Kysilko, FCRH ’28. “I was walking over there, and they were changing the brick pattern in the sidewalk, so I had to walk around it, and it was really annoying.”
The interior of the building will also be restored. Once the roof is no longer leaking, the plaster of the interior apse can be repaired. Services will still happen in the church during this part of the renovation.
“During the interior renovations, the intent will be to separate the construction zone, so while the service area may be smaller, services will not be interrupted,” said Sino.
This renovation will cost approximately $1.25 million.
The church has undergone large renovations such as this in the past, most recently in 2021, when the bell tower was restored. The tower also had water filtration issues, and the renovators were required to find a match for the rare stone that made up the tower.
Last year, John Puglisi, associate vice president for facilities management, said that the goal was for the renovation to be concluded by the wedding season. The church is a popular wedding destination for alumni and non-alumni alike.
The church will likely remain under construction for the remainder of the academic year but the project should conclude at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year.
