Plans for the Lyndeborough Historical Society to purchase the United Church of Lyndeborough in the town’s center are continuing to move forward, with hopes for an official purchase and sales agreement to be in place by the end of the year.
The Lyndeborough Historical Society began discussions with church leadership about purchasing the building this winter, after a private buyer showed interest in the building.
The church ultimately decided not to sell to that buyer, but the Historical Society became interested in securing the church to be able to maintain it as a town property.
The church, located on Center Road, is in the town’s Historic District, along with the old Town Hall and the Town Pound. The district is part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The church itself was built in 1837, and is only used by the church during the summer, as the building isn’t heated.
Jessie Salisbury, secretary of the Historical Society, said since this winter, the Historical Society has been working with the church towards a purchase agreement to buy the building for a total cost of $156,000.
Purchase plans had to be put on hold as the Historical Society reestablished itself as a nonprofit. The Society had allowed its nonprofit tax status to lapse during a time it was mostly inactive, Salisbury said, and is in the midst of reestablishing it now to accept donations and grants for the purchase of the church.
The Historical Society has resubmitted the paperwork and paid the fees associated with establishing nonprofit status, and are at this point waiting for the paperwork to be processed.
Once that has been completed, Salisbury said, the Historical Society plans to begin fundraising in earnest for a down payment on the church this fall.
The Historical Society is planning a fundraiser yard sale as well as a concert, but dates and details have not been set, yet. The Historical Society is also looking for volunteers to help organize and run the fundraisers.
Salisbury said the Historical Society has a verbal agreement with the church that it will remain off the market while the Historical Society works toward a down payment, with the expectation that a more formal agreement will be in place by the end of the year.
Salisbury said the intent is that after the Historical Society purchases the building through a combination of donations and grants, that it will transfer ownership of the building to the town, for use as a rental space and town events.
Donations for the purchase of the church are being accepted. Checks can be made out to the Lyndeborough Historical Society and sent to LHS, c/o S. Roeper 35 Brandy Brook Road, Lyndeborough.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.