By Sabrina Artusa
In Northport, the Trinity Episcopal Church is transforming across time as local couple Nancy and Robert Hendrick renovate the building to reflect the original design.
The church, built in 1889, sits on Main Street; its double red doors face the sidewalk, inviting pedestrians in, just as they had more than 100 years ago. Inside, five Tiffany stained-glass windows filter the light as it falls softly on the altar and pews.
Nancy and Robert Hendrick, a husband and wife artist duo who are also volunteer directors of Trinity Community Arts Center, are dedicated to unveiling the original grandeur of the church.
“It is such a beautiful space,” Robert Hendrick said. ”[We want] to bring back the feeling that throw the parishioners felt walking into that church in 1889. To get back to that feeling is our mission.”
The Hendricks, who have performed various art restorations and commissions in the past, said that the church presented them with an opportunity that they felt was especially suited for their interests and values, both artistically and personally.
“We love our church and the people in it,” Nancy Hendrick said.
The interior design has been modified over the years: original gold leafing around the stained-glass window of Jesus was painted gold, an original railing was replaced, and the altar was changed. While still beautiful, it lacked the timeless presence of its forebears.
“I don’t look at it as a renovation but we are updating or restoring this truly truly beautiful building,” the Rev. Andrew Garnet said.
Garnet found old pictures of the church and had the idea to renovate. Robert and Nancy, having recently visited historic churches in Vienna, were inundated with inspiration. Nancy said, ”It is a wonderful space to give back to God. Everything absolutely just fell together perfectly. “
They decided to paint the walls with a metallic Italian plaster, creating an airy, cloudy effect. The altar will be restored to reflect its original gilding, and the frame was gilded with gold leaf in the original style. The rail is also being restored and will replace the new ones.
“Everything we do as a parish is borne from what we do in church, what we do in mass, which is why as a tradition we spend so much time and effort on our sacred spaces,” he said, explaining the significance of the renovation to his parish.
Robert, while examining the frame around the Jesus window, found traces of gold leaf in a rosette. The discovery gave renewed purpose to the pair’s work as it was a real trace of a detail that was almost forgotten. “[It was] reaffirming what we were doing,” Robert said.
“In taking this church back to its origins, you kind of understand what those original parishioners were looking for, what was important to them,” he said.
Garnet is rector of the parish and joined Trinity Episcopal Church three years ago. In that time, he has been focused on opening the church to the community and making it a welcoming space whether it is through movie nights or social events. “The saddest thing about a church is a closed door and an empty pew,” he said.
Creating the Trinity Community Arts Center was part of Garnet’s work goal of “meeting people where they are.” Northport is a bustling art district, and nourishing art’s intersection with religion is a way to do that.
Garnet moved the Sunday morning coffee hour to the arts center instead of the church, thereby encouraging passerby not only to interact with the arts center, an arm of the church, but also to make connections with community members.
