Landmark churches open doors to tours

Inside St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Patchogue during the annual... — Inside St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Patchogue during the annual New York Landmark Conservancy open house weekend which treated all comers to wonderful art and architecture. (May 19, 2012) Credit: Steven Sunshine

By ROBERT BRODSKYrobert.brodsky@newsday.comMay 19, 2012

Long Island residents are encouraged to become tourists in their own towns this weekend as landmark churches open their doors, offering a rare public glimpse of historic art and architecture.

Nearly 100 churches, synagogues and Quaker meeting houses from across the state -- including six on Long Island -- are participating in the New York Landmarks Conservancy's annual "Sacred Sites" open house.

Conservancy president Peg Breen said Americans travel to Europe to visit religious buildings and monuments. She hopes to bring that same level of cultural exploration to New York.

"We have some fabulous buildings here," Breen said. "And you don't need to be religious to appreciate the terrific architecture, music and history."

At St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Patchogue, originally built in 1883, visitors trickled in Saturday to admire the high wood ceilings, red-and-blue stained glass and varnished interior paneling.

The building is Patchogue's oldest Episcopal church and the fourth oldest in Suffolk.

"You get a sense of history here," said Pastor Elisabeth Tunney. "As the building moans and creeks you can literally here it talking to you."

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Sacred Sites, which provides grant funding to help restore religious properties on the National Register of Historic Places, has helped refurbish St. Paul's roof, steeple and entrance.

Since 1986, the program has provided $7 million to more than 660 congregations statewide. Those grants, along with private donations, have led to $530 million in renovation projects over that period, Breen said.

Along with St. Paul's, two other Long Island congregations opened their doors to the public Saturday: St. Thomas Chapel in Amagansett and First Presbyterian Church of Sag Harbor.

Sunday, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on East Main Street in Yaphank, is open noon to 4 p.m.; First Presbyterian Church of Sag Harbor, 44 Union St., noon to 2 p.m.; St. John's Episcopal Church in Oakdale, 895 Montauk Hwy., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, 2429 Montauk Hwy., 11:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.