Huge repair bill for Albion church

ALBION, NY (WIVB) - An historic Orleans County church is an integral part of the community but faces a whopping $420,000 repair bill.

The First United Methodist Church in Albion is part of Courthouse Square and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pastor Vonda Fossitt tells the Batavia Daily News that the the church building needs a new roof, bricks need to be repointed and replaced and trusses are not properly supporting the structure.

A Rochester architecture firm was brought in to study the structure and has recommended the installation of steel rods along the trusses to stabilize the building.

The church as reportedly raised $30,000 so far and is in line to possibly get a $50,000 Sacred Sites Grant with matching funds.

First United has about 70 parishoners who attend mass regularly.