Lancaster Church’s Plastic Spindles At Heart Of Preservation Debate

A dispute over the set of 15 plastic spindles removed last year from the facade of the Lancaster Presbyterian Church is moving to the Village Board.

Preservationists say the church must replace the 1-foot-tall spindles because they are part of the buildings historic character.

Church officials say the spindles arent original to the building, and they would rather spend the replacement costan estimated $4,000 or moreon something more directly related to the churchs mission.

The Village Board on Monday will decide this test of Lancasters historic preservation laws.

We want to make every effort to strike a balance between good relations with our neighbors and prudent stewardship of Kingdom resources, said the Rev. Kelly Negus, the church pastor.

A contractor removed the spindles from the church after the 40-year-old decorative objects broke during a repainting project.

The church opted not to replace the cylindrical spindles, but the villages Historic Preservation Commission ruled that they are required to do so under the code that governs Lancasters historic preservation district.

We based it on the standards, which were obligated to uphold, said Michael Meyer, the commissions chairman.

Lancaster Presbyterian Church, at 5461 Broadway, was formed in 1818, and the church sanctuary was built in 1831 after members took a trip through New England to get design ideas, according to a church history. It is the oldest church in Lancaster.

Church leaders last summer hired a contractor to repaint three sides of the sanctuary, caulk holes to make the structure weatherproof and replace two of the steeples roofs.

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Lancaster Church’s Plastic Spindles At Heart Of Preservation Debate