FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2026

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Historic Belleville Meetinghouse Receives $91K for Ceiling Restoration

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Belleville Congregational Church has been awarded $91,211 in Community Preservation Funds from the City of Newburyport to support the restoration of the historic ceiling in the Belleville Meetinghouse at 300 High Street. This marks a major step forward in a multi-year effort to preserve and reopen one of the city’s most important community gathering spaces.

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Belleville Meetinghouse is known for the “best acoustics on the North Shore” and hosts the Newburyport Choral Society, Belleville Roots Music Series, church services, theater productions, organ concerts, weddings and other community events.

 

"When people walk into the Belleville Meetinghouse, they immediately feel the history—and they hear the extraordinary acoustics,” says Ross Varney, Pastor of Belleville Church. “This generous award is a powerful vote of confidence in our plan to restore the building and return it to full use for worship, concerts, and community events.”

 

Due to the aging plaster ceiling, the church temporarily closed the Meetinghouse in January 2024 until it can be renovated. The restoration project will stabilize and repair the ceiling structure for generations to come. The total project cost is $425,000 and will cover scaffolding, disposal of the compromised plaster, installation of a new ceiling, painting and other finish work. 

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“We are grateful to everyone who has supported this effort so far,” said Marcia Shoemaker, fundraising chair. “We are now reaching out to the greater Newburyport community for support with a GoFundMe effort and are planning a fundraising event." 

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With the city's award, the campaign for the Belleville Meetinghouse is 70% of the way toward reaching its fundraising goal for the ceiling. Belleville Church and its partners, including Belleville Arts Foundation, have raised $204,800 through private donations and fundraising efforts so far. To close the remaining gap, Belleville is working to raise an additional $132,000.

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In the works is a fundraising event along with community partners including Belleville Arts Foundation, Newburyport Choral Society, Belleville Roots Music Series, and other community arts organizations. Belleville Church has also launched a Gofundme page https://gofund.me/f9db9f7d6. For more information about the ceiling restoration project please contact Belleville Meetinghouse fundraising via email at office@belleville-church.org, or visit www.Bellevillechurch.org.

Or contact the the Belleville Arts Foundation, Inc., an independent, non-profit organization. The Mission of the Belleville Arts Foundation is to preserve maintain, and improve the Belleville Meetinghouse and to use it as a venue for arts education and performance alongside its long-standing historic uses.

 

You can be a part of our historical renovation by making a donation in any amount to 300 High Street, Newburyport MA 01950.