Restoration work under way at New Bedford’s St. Lawrence Martyr Church
- St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford, built in 1871, is undergoing two restoration projects.
- The church’s clock tower is being restored, and the interior will be replastered and repainted.
- The projects will cost almost a quarter-million dollars, and donors can give to help defray the cost.
NEW BEDFORD — The beauty of the landmark granite edifice that is St. Lawrence Martyr Church on Summer Street has struck parishioners and visitors for generation after generation.
The time has come for work on the imposing 19th century structure, designed by renowned church architect Patrick Charles Keely, to maintain that beauty.
Two renovation projects are underway.
“People walk into St. Lawrence Church and the first thing they see is a very beautiful church,” said church pastor, the Rev. Michael Racine.
“We’re trying to keep the beauty of this church,” he said. “There’s certainly a great need for the work.”
First step: Restore church clock tower
The first project is timely indeed, restoration of the church clock tower.
“That’s going to be done through a company called Verdin Bells that also does clock towers, restores clock faces,” Racine said. The work will not involve church bells.
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Next step: Repaint and restore church’s interior
The second project will be to paint and plaster the church’s interior, which hasn’t been done in years.
The $28,000 clock tower project has received final approval from the Diocese of Fall River, he said, and the work will be done in the spring.
The $200,000 painting-plastering project could begin following Easter, but that will depend on fundraising efforts.
While most of the clock tower money has been secured thanks to a substantial family donation, the church has recently embarked on fundraising for the second project.
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How to donate and help church restoration
Racine said people can donate to either project online at whalingcitycatholics.org. Go to St. Lawrence and click “donate.”
He said the church will continue its weekly Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m., and all other services throughout the work.
“Funerals will not be interrupted. Weddings will not be interrupted. Baptisms will still take place. The church will not close during this.”
St. Lawrence’s long history in New Bedford
The original church was established as St. Mary’s in 1821, and was located on Allen Street, according to a history written by the Rev. Barry W. Wall, who was retired from St. Lawrence, grew up in the parish and was a graduate of Holy Family High School in New Bedford.
The familiar granite structure on County Street was built after the Civil War and was dedicated by Bishop John J. Williams of Boston in honor of Saint Lawrence in 1871. Saint Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of Rome who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians ordered by the Roman Emperor Valerian in the year 258.
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