BURRILLVILLE – Outside on Saturday at the impressive edifice known as First Universalist Church at 134 Harrisville Main St. was a yard sale with a purpose.
The Harrisville antiquarian building has champions including the clerk of the church, historian Betty Mencucci, who are making an effort to preserve the Victorian era landmark from the fate of untold other old Rhode Island churches when membership diminishes over time.
“All money goes toward preservation of this historic building,” Mencucci said about the yard sale. “We are a very small group but we work very hard.”
The sunny mild weather was with the group this past Saturday and at their previous yard sale a month ago; however, the months before brought rain on scheduled days.
Obstacles aside, Mencucci is determined to save the church.
Mencucci’s brother Ken Hopkins, when he’s not working on a farm, works as a janitor for the church, and he has the task of winding the clock. He winds the clock’s giant crank to bring it up so the pendulum works. When the weather is hot, the pendulum runs slower, and when it’s cold the opposite happens, explained Hopkins.
He has worked at the church for 50 years.
“In 19(76) I did it for my mom. I’ve just got to make sure it doesn’t fold,” he said of working to keep the building intact. “Insurance, heat—costs a fortune,”
The group trying to preserve the structure does a variety of activities to raise money.
Hopkins and Mencucci’s mother will turn 102 this year, and she grew up in the church, said Mencucci.
“I got married in this church,” she explained, and her sister, Kathy Hopkins, now deceased, was “heavily involved in the lay ministry.”
“My grandmother went to Sunday school here. My parents were married here. My siblings and I were baptized here,” said Ken’s daughter, Kerry Hopkins, who is the church treasurer and led the Christmas service as a lay minister last year.
Kenny Hopkins III, age 17, and Kerry’s nephew, said he enjoys the church’s Christmas candlelight service. He has attended every one of the yard sales to help ensure more services continue annually for years to come.
“Every sale is more crucial for aiding the church,” he said, and acknowledged he and the others will keep on trying.
Local Jenn Plante, a vendor at the nearby Burrillville Farmers Market stopped by the yard sale to search for embroidery materials.
“I bought a sewing machine here last year and got a really good deal,” she said. About the attempt to preserve the old church, Plante added, “I love it and (the work) to keep the originality of it.”
When Mencucci looked into methods of preserving the church, she said one suggestion from outside was to turn the building into condos, a solution she finds unacceptable.
Kathleen Babcock of Smithfield was shopping at the yard sale and took a moment to say what she appreciates about both the structure and the town.
“I enjoy the Christmas service and the singing. I live near enough to attend things in town; they’re arts and outdoors-oriented,” she said, noting she likes attending the outdoor concerts at the nearby library.
Babcock and her husband “love the Assembly Theater and this church keeping the historic nature of this village,” she said. “I can’t imagine this building not being here.”
Mencucci explained that at the Christmas service the historic candlelight chandelier is lit.
“This only happens once a year and is very special spiritual event,” Mencucci said. “The service is for those of all faiths. We also have a Christmas carol sing-a-long in December and a large Christmas bazaar.”
Kaliegh Slavin ventured into the northern Rhode Island town this past summer weekend to check out houses for sale. She and her companion stopped by the yard sale where they learned of the event’s purpose.
“There should be more of a push to save these types of buildings,” said Slavin. “It’s great that a community is coming together to save this.”
“That’s what I like about this –the small town vibe about it,” said Slavin’s companion Andrew Bates, from Cranston, of Burrillville.
Constructed in 1886 during the late-Victorian era in the Neo-Gothic architectural style for $10,000, the church was altered in 1933 to a Colonial style by magnate and town benefactor Austin T. Levy to comply with his idea of making Harrisville Main Street more like Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, according to Mencucci, who is president of the Burrillville Historic & Preservation Society.
“Betty is my cousin and family sticks together,” said local Sharon Vezina, who was at the yard sale. The church has “been here for years and it needs attention and we’re here to give it,” she said.
“Nobody else is taking care of it,” added her husband, Richard Vezina. “They’re taking care of it.”
In addition to shopping at or donating to the monthly yard sales held from May to September and during the upcoming Harvest Festival
Mencucci noted how people can help preserve the church.
The building is available for renting for special occasions such as showers, weddings, and birthday parties. Other opportunities throughout the year for the public to get involved include open mic night, yoga classes, historic walking tours of Harrisville and the annual chicken BBQ dinner fundraiser at Addieville East Farm in September, according to Mencucci.
The family and the community, and some folks from outside Burrillville who appreciate its small town and historic value, continue to work together for the old church in its time of need.
For more information, and to keep up with upcoming church events follow First Universalist Church of Burrillville here.
