When you walk through downtown Troy, there’s one building that really stands out: Christ Church United Methodist, sitting right at State and Fifth Ave.

It’s been here almost 200 years, and honestly, this place isn’t just a church. It’s a living piece of Troy’s history. The walls have watched the city rise as a nineteenth-century industrial powerhouse, and they’ve survived a lot from growth, hard times, waves of newcomers, industry booming and fading, and now, the city’s push to come alive again.

It’s hard to keep a place around this long without needing repairs.

The church has served Troy all this time, but now the building needs some serious work. This fall, they’re launching a $2 million capital campaign to fix masonry, restore the roof, re-point the big Spire, touch up the church and parish house, and restore those north and south gables, and slap a new slate roof on top. It has to replace the one that’s been up there for 150 years.

They’re kicking things off during Troy Night Out, Friday the 29th, from 5 to 11 p.m., right at the church.

“Raising Our Voices for Social Justice and the Defense of Democracy.” That night is turning the church into a stage with eight local bands, all singing Songs of Freedom. If you can, show up and support them. Honestly, they’ve opened their doors to so many nonprofits over the years, and lately, Ecstatic Dance with Justyna Kostek happens in Fellowship Hall once a month.

On Sunday, May 31st, Justyna and Alicia Ascevich are including SEED (Soul Expansion Embodiment Dance). Reach out to Justyna at islavaa@gmail.com for more info.

The roots run deep. Back in 1793, when........

© The Saratogian