A 70-year-old congregation in Bethlehem’s Historic District has installed an elevator to service its four-story 19th Century building to provide greater access to members and friends. The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley (UUCLV), 424 Center Street, completed the elevator in early June to enhance access for its members, friends and the community at large for use of its second floor sanctuary for religious services, weddings, concerts and public events.

The UUCLV annually hosts a four-part concert series which draws music lovers from the greater Lehigh Valley.

“It is extremely important to our members and friends that we provide access to those with all ranges of ability, including those using wheel chairs and walkers,” says outgoing Congregational President Cease Blocker.

The two-year project emanated from a capital fund drive in 2011 to address upgrades and maintenance, according to Bernard Bujnowski, Capital Projects Committee chair, and Michael Benning, both of whom oversaw the project. The elevator serves four levels of the building and is availed by an outside access ramp on the south side of the structure.

The building is the former Wesley United Methodist Church at the corner of Center and Wall streets. The primary edifice with arching stained glass windows and a second floor sanctuary was dedicated in 1870. The UUCLV moved to the Historic District in 1995 from Fountain Hill.