GILROY—Delicate repairs to one of Gilroy’s most iconic landmarks are on hold awaiting city approvals that might come too late to save the Old Presbyterian Church from even worse weather damage.
Built in 1869 and sold in 1987 to the Salvation Army, the historic structure on the corner of Fifth and Church streets two blocks from the downtown has suffered significant damage to its steeple and roof from leaks and rain intrusion.
Some stained glass windows that filtered sunlight into the sanctuary for nearly 150 years are broken and need repair or replacement, according to church leader Salvation Army Capt. Demetrio Villarreal.
“This is the most important thing I have to do,” Villarreal said of caring for the old structure. “We want to maintain it as much as possible, but [right now] we need the help of the city to pass all the approvals.”
To date, he said, the project costs are $85,000 and expected to go up. To erect the scaffolding that embraces the entire front core and steeple of the building cost $30,000, Villarreal said.
It was initially thought the whole project would take 30 days, so the scaffolds were rented for a month. However, with each month that passes the cost just for equipment rental drives up the project total, he said.
Funding for the repairs will come from the Salvation Army; special donations are not being sought, according to Villarreal.
The church was the longtime home of city’s Presbyterian congregation. It was sold when the group built and occupied a modern new church on the west side of Santa Teresa Boulevard about a mile north of Gavilan Community College.
The old church was built in what the city’s inventory of historic building calls a “simple Carpenter Gothic” style.
Repairs are “more complicated than they would be if this was just another building,” rather than a historic structure and of great importance to the city, said Ellen Torchio, social services and administrative coordinator for the Salvation Army’s Gilroy congregation.
The leaks were detected several months ago and the decision was made at the Salvation Army headquarters in San Francisco to “take care of it as soon as possible” she said, to prevent more serious damage from happening when seasonal rains begin.
“We want to preserve everything in its original form; we always maintain our properties and this one is special,” said Torchio, who has worked for nine years at the church.
Since taking over the building, the Salvation Army has “little by little and step by step” made repairs and improvements, including a 2011 paint job for the entire structure, she said.
As for the stained glass, she said there are requirements that must be met for its repair or replacement.
“We have to maintain the integrity of the building,” Torchio said.
For now, she said, it’s “red tape” that’s holding up work.
“It’s an important building for Gilroy,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll get it all done as quickly as possible, before winter to keep things from getting worse.”
