Tony Nunziato for NY State Assembly - 19th Century Church in Queens Finds New Life on Greener Pastures

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A 19th century Queens church is on the move, after being threatened with demolition - but it's not going too far away. NY1’s Roger Clark filed the following story.

It's been on a hill in Maspeth since 1847, but St. Saviour's Church is destined for a new location.

"We want to preserve it for another 160 years, so our children and the next children can see the history of Queens,” said Tony Nunziato of the Juniper Park Civic Association.

After a two-year battle to save the historic gothic-style church building, the Juniper Park Civic Association and preservationists were able to convince the owner of the property its on to spare it. The land is slated for development, but it is not known yet what will be built there.

"I said look, all we want is the church, if you could just give us the church, donate the church to us, we'll get it off the property,” said Robert Holden of the Juniper Park Civic Association.

So where do you put an old church with no congregation? How about on the outskirts of a cemetery? Officials at the All Faiths Cemetery in nearby Middle Village said they would welcome it.

"We felt that we would be able to assist the project and that we would be able to help the community,” said All Faiths Cemetery president Daniel Austin. Austin envisions the church serving as a chapel and community center.

"The reason that we are particularly happy is that if it's here it will be safe for generations, it will be used,” said Christabel Gough of the Newtown Historical Society.

The next step is determining how to move the building over the next month, either in one piece, or taking it apart and putting it back together at the cemetery. It's an expensive process. Between moving and restoration, the cost is estimated at a quarter of a million to half a million dollars. The Civic Association is looking for help from the public.

“We have money on the side, but we definitely need more, for sure,” said Tony Nunziato of the Juniper Park Civic Association.

Meanwhile, residents in the church's current neighborhood say they would have preferred it stayed, but are glad it is being saved.

"Once it's gone, you don't get it back, so if it winds up in another location it's better than nothing,” said a Maspeth Resident.

For more information about Saint Saviour's or to help, check out the Juniper Park Civic Association's website at www.junipercivic.com or call 718-651-5865. - Roger Clark