As the battle over whether to demolish St. Brigid's Church rages in state appeals court, an anonymous wealthy benefactor (an "angel," if you will) has stepped up with an offer to buy the deteriorating building, located just east of Tompkins Square Park, at market rate and restore it for nonprofit use. This bit of deus ex machina appears to be in response to a plea by the Committee to Save St. Brigid's Church. Of course, an offer does not a deal make, and the court and the archdiocese still have to weigh in on this new wrinkle in the play. Meanwhile, there was supposed to be a "Bards for St. Brigid's" benefit show last night at a Midtown watering hole. Did it turn into a victory party? (And have you ever noticed how the bard and the bar go together so well?)
· Wealthy ‘angel’ offers salvation for St. Brigid’s Church on Ave. B [Villager]
· Court Hears Arguments on Suit to Stop a Church's Demolition [NYT]
· Committee to Save St. Brigid's Church [SaveStBrigid.com]
· St. Brigid Archive [Curbed]
UPDATE: The Times tracks down the bards at their West 45th Street event, where $20,000 was raised?to pay the lawyers, we assume. Also, there's this: "The archdiocese ... is cool to a recent anonymous offer to buy the church." [City Section]