The First Baptist Church of Mansfield has launched the "RAISE THE ROOF" Campaign with a goal of raising $50,000.00 to replace the wood shingle roof on the church sanctuary. The church is located in the Spring Hill Historic District of Mansfield Connecticut and the roof must be replaced with the same type of cedar shingles currently in place. The Board of Trustees felt it was necessary to replace the roof before any damage had been sustained to the interior of the sanctuary and has contracted with Glenn Pianka of Olde New England Salvage Company in Lebanon Connecticut to perform the work. The project was started in November 2010, with the replacement of the back side of the roof in progress. The work on the front side of the church will be completed in the spring.

The simple Carpenter Gothic church has graced the Spring Hill area since 1876. This well maintained church features a steeply pitched gabled roof, board and batten exterior, lancet windows and wooden buttresses. The main entrance to the church sanctuary is located on the east side of the building granting access through a wide gothic arched double doorway through the belfry tower. These distinguishing features of Carpenter Gothic style architecture were popularized by the architect Richard Upjohn during the 19th century and make the First Baptist Church of Mansfield one of the most significant architectural structures in the Town of Mansfield. The church plays an active role in the community lending its facility to groups such as the boy scouts, an Interfaith Youth Group, University of Connecticut student groups, and radKIDS children's safety education classes. The congregation participates in mission work on the local, national and international levels. Monthly donations are collected for the Covenant Soup Kitchen and Emergency Food Pantry, annual youth service trips are organized each summer to other areas of the country and individual parishioners are actively involved in international missions.

If you have questions, concerns or just want more details about the campaign or other fundraising events, please give us a call at 860-429-6043. If you would like to help preserve this historic building please click on the link to DONATION FORM. Your contribution to the RAISE THE ROOF FUND is tax deductible.