Doing Good by Stealth: The Philanthropy and Service of Annie Burr Lewis
First Church of Christ
As a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 1652, Annie Burr Lewis played a prominent role in the project to expand the church facilities to accommodate social and educational programming. Discussions and proposals for additions and renovations went on for several years during the late 1940s through the 1950s. Again Annie Burr’s experience with fundraising and historic preservation was an advantage. She advocated involving building preservation experts in the planning process, and she drew upon her contacts in the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings to solicit names of suitable architects to consult. She then wrote directly to New York architect William Platt, who was recommended and whom she had met socially, about undertaking the First Church project. To “get the ball rolling” she funded his research and plans. Annie Burr, together with several other prominent members of the church, also spearheaded development efforts and drafted the fundraising brochure.
As there was a change in leadership at the church just as the restoration project was about to commence, Annie Burr considerately suggested that the work be delayed until the new minister was appointed, and when it became evident that a large sum was needed to relocate the organ to its original location on the east wall, she provided the money needed but insisted that her name not be used in any publicity connected with the restoration. Her pivotal role in the project was posthumously recognized in the order of service for the celebration of the completed restoration in the fall of 1959.
