On March 30, 2001, the seminary and the congregation signed the two-year mortgage contract, stating that the congregation would have to pay more than $2 million by March 30, 2003, as well as $200,000 in interest payments to purchase and keep the chapel property.
The congregation began fundraising right away—but Sept. 11 thwarted their efforts, according to Wiberg.
In the new year, the church has added new fundraising initiatives, including the creation of a board of trustees, as well as a website that allows donors to send in money electronically.
The congregation remains hopeful about raising the $2 million on deadline.
“Even the seminary, which has not been supportive in the past, is interested in seeing us make it,” Wiberg added. “A lot of people are pulling in our direction.”
The congregation said they hope to save the chapel property because of its unique historical connection to the site and Harvard.
“It’s such an unusual property and such a wonderful figurehead for our denomination,” Wiberg said. “If you were to itemize churches across the country, our church would be at top in terms of visibility and charm and architectural excellence.”
Being surrounded by Harvard is especially advantageous for Swedenborgs.
“The location is an amazing asset for us,” said Buteux, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1998 and interned at the church during that time. “Swedenborgs are intellectual types—we love lectures and being around a university.”
She added that the church hopes to become more involved with Harvard in the future if they remain at their current location.
“We are planning after-school and meditation programs for students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School,” Buteux said. “And we’d love for Harvard students to volunteer and help us out.”
Buteux has recently been named a chaplain for the University—and hopes that will facilitate more of a connection with Harvard.
“All religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do good,” she said, citing a Swedenborg saying.
—Staff writer Lauren A.E. Schuker can be reached at schuker@fas.harvard.edu.