The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont has received a $50,000 Mission Real Estate Development grant from Trinity Church NYC. The grant will help the diocese evaluate potential income generating opportunities at its Mission Farm property in alignment with the mission and ministries of the diocese.
Mission Farm’s evaluation will be a feasibility study funded by Trinity Church NYC’s Mission Real Estate Development grant program. These grants aim to empower organizations within The Episcopal Church and wider Anglican Communion to grow their impact in their community through “creative development of church property” and “build sustainable financial capacity,” according to Trinity Church NYC.
The feasibility study is set to begin this winter. “It comes at a critical point,” said Kimberly French, a member of Mission Farm’s Advisory Council, “We are ready to leapfrog into an exciting future.”
The study will be conducted by White and Burke Real Estate Advisors, who will begin by gathering information regarding Mission Farm’s property, the applicable regulations for the property, and the demographics of the area. In March, they will perform site visits at Mission Farm, meet with key stakeholders in the project, identify if and where there are information gaps, and start engaging with other professionals, such as wetlands specialists or engineers, to aid in evaluating the property. The study will conclude in the fall with a report from the advisors on their findings and recommendations for Mission Farm.
“I am pleased that this grant and study will further our mission of redeveloping our resources in ways that we hope will positively impact the communities our churches serve,” said the Rt. Rev. Dr. Shannon MacVean-Brown, Bishop of Vermont. “This has always been the mission of Church of Our Savior in Killington and Mission Farm, and now we can evaluate how to further that mission.”
The Rev. Lisa Ransom, vicar of Church of Our Savior and executive director of Mission Farm, hopes the grant and recommendations will allow for deep engagement with the community and a deeper connection with the earth. “The original intent of this space was to be an asset for the larger community. We have spent the last four years exploring the inherent truth of what it means to be Mission Farm. Our mission is focused on connection, conservation, and justice,” said Ransom. “Those truths held true for Elizabeth Wood Clement, Mission Farm’s founder, in 1895. It’s an exploration, not only with the people here, but also as we understand ourselves as part of the ecosystem with the land.”
“Trinity Church is blessed to be able to support the Diocese of Vermont in its mission and ministry,” said Bea de la Torre, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Trinity Church NYC. “This feasibility study will allow Mission Farm to discern a vision for its 180 acres that will meet the needs of the greater Killington community. We look forward to seeing the results of this study and the impact of the ultimate project.”
About Trinity Church
Trinity Church is an Episcopal parish in New York City founded in 1697. They work for justice, serve their neighbors, and bring people together to experience God’s love in community. Trinity’s outreach in the city includes 20 weekly worship services, food assistance seven days a week for people in need, support for asylum seekers, housing for the elderly and people living with disabilities, youth programs, and a wide array of free music and educational events throughout the year. The church also supports communities and ministries serving the world in Africa, Asia, and across the Americas.
