It’s been just over four years since we had our first services here in Rocky Hill. We’ve been working on plans for renovations for about two years and we plan to sign with a contractor this week to do the work. Here is a summary of what has been done, what will be done and what help is needed from parishioners.


What has already been done?

• The basement drainage system was overhauled by parishioners.

• An iconostasis was purchased through a donation.

• A church chandelier was received as a donation.

• A fund-raising letter was sent out to a broad Orthodox mailing two years ago and raised about $46,000.

• Drawings and specifications have been prepared by a parishioner and by our architect, Bill Gittings. It was necessary to get an architect’s seal to permits since the church building is a place of public assembly.

• The architect brought in a structural engineer who identified problems caused by faulty installation of the bell tower. There was not adequate support in the roof for the bell tower resulting in the roof sagging and causing the walls to be bowed out.

• These structural issues have to be addressed but were not part of our original renovations plans and therefore added to the cost of the project.

• Though initially we envisioned our church renovation as being done into two or three separate phases, our architect strongly recommended that we do all the renovations together because it would be less expensive and less disruptive in the long run to do a single major renovation project. This too added to the cost to the project.

• We solicited and received three contractor bids and settled on Ken Varian Builders to do the work.


What is planned for the renovation?

• Reinforce and shore up the roof by extending the choir loft posts into the roof and adding posts inside the back wall.

• Pull in the walls with rods.

• Add an attic space exhaust system so that Air Conditioning will be needed less often.

• Redo the ceiling. This includes flattening out the peak for future iconography, installing drywall, painting and insulating.

• Add cove lighting to illuminate the ceiling.

• Redo the electrical system including adding new spot-light fixtures to the choir loft and new chandeliers.

• Replace the altar platform, install the iconostasis, and add a vestry area, storage and a liturgical sink.

• Refinish the church floor.

• Patch gap in the inside wall where the chimney was removed in the nave of the church.


What’s the schedule for the renovation?

• Our contract has been reviewed by our attorney and we expect to sign with our contractor on the Feast of the Annunciation (7 April, n.s.).

• The contractor will then work through the permit process.

• The contractor starts work after Pascha (27 April, n.s.) as soon as the permits have been granted.

• The project will run about three months which means that we will most likely not be serving here for our feast day (18 July, n.s.).


How much will it cost?

• We have already paid about $10,000 to the architect and structural engineer.

• We paid $3000 for the iconostasis.

• The contract will be signed for $125,100. This does not include the add-option of $5000 for the choir loft railing nor unforeseen overruns.

• We have about $109,000 in the building fund so we are short $14,000 for the contract amount.

• There is a matching grant available of $10,000 for parishioners and friends of the parish - your donations will be matched dollar for dollar.

• If you would like to donate towards this project, please make your check out to St. Elizabeth’s Orthodox Church and write Building Fund in the memo line.

The Aim and Ethos of St Elizabeth's Church

The Orthodox Church of Saint Elizabeth the New-Martyr has as its aim to bring all to the Light of Christ our Saviour and His Body, the Orthodox Church. It seeks to bring together persons from all backgrounds to glorify the Most Holy Trinity in the True Orthodox Faith. This Parish pledges itself to be a Parish where persons from different traditionally Orthodox cultures, as well as converts to our Holy Faith, are all welcome. The primary liturgical language used at St Elizabeth's is English, but other languages, such as Church Slavonic, Greek, and Arabic, are used in addition to English as a witness to the catholicity of the Church and to serve the needs of members of various backgrounds. St Elizabeth's adheres to the Patristic (i.e. the "Old" or Julian) Calendar of the Orthodox Church in both the Paschalion (the date of Easter and the Feastdays dependant upon it) and the Menologion (the dates of fixed Feastdays.) The Order of Divine Services used at St Elizabeth's is that received in the Russian Orthodox Church, the Typikon of Mar Sabbas, observed with the standard modifications for parish usage. Although the parish's Liturgical Order is that of the Russian Church, many liturgical customs that are meaningful to those who make up our Parish from other Orthodox backgrounds are also observed. In keeping with the Pan-Orthodox nature of St Elizabeth's, a diversity of genuinely Orthodox styles of liturgical chant is employed. Different traditions of ancient Byzantine and Russian chant are used in the Parish, depending upon the backgrounds and capabilities of our chanters and singers.

A Brief History of St Elizabeth's Church

The Orthodox Church of Saint Elizabeth the New-Martyr had as its beginning a group of Orthodox Christians who gathered together for liturgical services in Somerville, New Jersey, beginning in the Spring of 1998. The parish was formally founded founded in July of 1998 as a Mission Parish of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

For the first three and a half years of its existence, St Elizabeth's held its functions, both liturgical and social, in the home our priest, Fr David Straut.

In September of 2001, the Mission was given the use of a large room as a dedicated Chapel at the back of the home of one our faithful parishioners in Somerville. It had a separate entrance from the house and its own facilities. In addition, this parishioner allowed us to use his basement for coffee hour and meetings. We enjoyed the hospitality of this parishioner for two and a half years until we were able to buy our own church building.

After nearly six years of worshipping in temporary quarters and through the sacrifice of our parishioners and a few friends of our parish, St Elizabeth's was able to acquire a ninety-five year old church building in the Princeton area on 18 February 2004. It was the historic St James' Church at 38 Princeton Avenue, Rocky Hill, New Jersey 08553. We thank God for His great mercy toward our little church.

Current Statistics and Status

Begun by only thirteen people (including the priest's family of seven!) in seven households, the Mission has experienced steady growth to fifty-five members in twenty-five households in about seven years. Despite the fact that Fr David helps support his family by working at a job outside the parish, St Elizabeth's is able to maintain a full schedule of liturgical services. The Vigil Service (Great Vespers, Matins, and the First Hour) is served every Saturday evening and on the Eve of Great Feasts. The Divine Liturgy is served each Sunday and Great Feastday morning. Our average attendance on Saturday evening is about twenty persons, while the average on Sunday mornings is about forty-five persons, a third of whom are children.