First Parish Church Westford, MA

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The Application for Community Preservation Funds to Provide Handicapped Access
to the Historic Meetinghouse

Please Attend Town Meeting on Saturday, March 27 at 10:00 AM at the Abbot School to vote for the application!

For the past several years the First Parish Church United has been struggling to determine the best way to provide handicapped access to the Meetinghouse. Raising the funds necessary to provide full and safe access while simultaneously maintaining the historical integrity of the Meetinghouse and its attractive appearance on the town common within a small congregation has been a major issue.

The application for Community Preservation Funds
To help accomplish this project, the church applied for funding from Westford's CPC funds. Community Preservation funds are special funds from the town of Westford and the State of Massachusetts that are available for the preservation of open space and historic sites, and the creation of affordable housing and recreational facilities. These funds can be used for the historic preservation of both private and public buildings if they are historic, visible and open to the community. Over thirty churches in Massachusetts have received funding. A strong capital campaign is underway to raise funds for the full project.

The status of the CPC Application
The application for $354K for handicapped access and archival storage of historic records has been approved by both the Westford Historical Commission and the Westford Community Preservation Committee. Town Meeting will vote on funding on Saturday March 27 at 10:00 AM. A majority vote is required.

Community Use
First Parish is used by boy scouts, girl scouts, 4H, community performances, Farmers Market events and storage, the Suzuki school and countless other community groups and events. FPCU welcomes members of the community, regardless of religious background for ceremonies of life, marriage, funerals, dedication and baptism. Over 80% of these services held at the Meetinghouse are for people in the community who are not members of the church.

Connection to Westford's history

First Parish Church "is Westford's most historically significant architectural resource." - Westford Preservation Plan
The Meetinghouse is four years older than the town. Westford could not have incorporated in 1729 without the church and minister
The Meetinghouse was the town hall until 1868 and Westford Academy graduations were held at FPCU until 1907

Supporters
"This application will provide the necessary funds to allow for the Meetinghouse to be handicapped accessible to all of Westford's citizens regardless of their physical limitations, in order that the facility can continue to be a central part of the Westford community"
- State Representative Jim Arciero

"Westford's Preservation Plan calls the Meetinghouse one of the most, if not the most, important building in the district. Improving access to this important civic space, and designing and constructing the work in a manner that respects the historic architecture and materials, would be of benefit to everyone in town."
- Steve Moga, Circuit Rider, Preservation Massachusetts

PLEASE ATTEND TOWN MEETING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 27 AT 10:00 AM ABBOTT SCHOOL. BABYSITTING WILL BE AVAILABLE AT FPCU.

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