More info on Edgehill Church concerns

To the editor,

Thank you for covering Community Board 8’s request to assist the Kingsbridge Historical Society with restoring its landmark headquarters (“Historic Edgehill Church in Dire Need of Repairs,” in last week’s issue).

I am writing to add some extra context to the article. First, it is worth clarifying that the building is no longer a church (as of December 2022, when it was acquired by the Kingsbridge Historical Society). We refer to it as “Edgehill” because the Kingsbridge Historical Society has no religious affiliation, and all are welcome to our events.

The article also mentioned a grant program for capital projects administered by NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs. The reporter included that this agency did not receive grant applications from the Kingsbridge Historical Society for 2025 or 2026.  While we were not eligible to apply for the grant in 2025, we intend to apply for 2026 once the agency makes the application available. The Kingsbridge Historical Society has vigorously pursued grants since acquiring the building, and we are grateful to have received grants and support from the New York City Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs of NYC, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, and the Victorian Society of New York.

We will continue to pursue every avenue to preserve our beautiful historic building–even as we run events, exhibits, and walking tours. We appreciate the Community Board’s advocacy and the encouragement we have received from the community.

Nick Dembowski