Driving on Main Street in recent weeks, one cannot miss the sparkling new roof on Trinity Episcopal Church at the corner of Church Hill Road.

Designed to last 50 years or more, the new roof is a combination of slate tiles on top and copper cladding on the lower sections. The previous slate roof dated back 100 years, but storms and age had taken their toll, and it had developed numerous leaks. The beautiful new roof will protect the historic and holy sanctuary and parish house in the heart of Newtown. Over time the copper will take on a rich patina.

The old slate from the main roof has all been removed and replaced with slate from the same Vermont quarry that supplied the original material. On the lower roofs and the mansard sections around the windows, new copper roofing is being installed.

Beneath all of the roofing are modern weather barriers to give the church lasting protection. Along with this, the wood moldings on the exterior are being restored and clad in copper, and new copper gutters and snow guards are being added to carry water and snow safely away.

Trinity is also installing a new flat roof over the offices and meeting rooms, restoring the roof on the stone steeple, and making needed repairs inside the bell tower.

Parishioners Jim Funk and Patrick Corrigan are managing this big project for the church.

Funk said: “I am very proud to be part of this beautiful renovation of our historic church. The building greatly needed a complete roof renovation, and we felt we owed it to the original builders, the thousands of families who have come through these doors, and the future generations who will gather here. Our churches have always been there for us — whether in times of sadness, times of joy, or in our prayers for peace. I am especially proud that our parish has come together to invest in preserving this treasured piece of history.”

The congregation has shown tremendous support for the project with contributions that exceeded the roof campaign’s target.

Warden Bob Gardner observed that “the current Trinity Church building has stood in the center of Newtown since 1870. Mindful of its prominence and proud of Trinity’s history, current parishioners have generously contributed to make this roof restoration possible.”

Those contributions are supplemented by a recent bequest from Dorothea LaBelle.

The work is being done by The Roofer, LLC led by Paul Laventure of Woodbury. Laventure is proud of his company’s work on this challenging project.

“It is rewarding that something I’ve done will be here in 100 years,” he said. “It makes a statement to my children that their father did something outstanding in our society.”

Said Funk: “This is a big project, but it’s worth it. We’re keeping the church true to its history while making sure it’s strong and secure for the future.”