This week, we learned the Chandler Street church, once the "most imposing church in New England," was recognized by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance as one of "Seven to Save" in 2016.

The alliance for the past decade has sought to bring attention to the Granite State’s most historic, unique or culturally significant landmarks. With the St. Mary and Archangel Michael Orthodox Coptic Church, formerly St. Francis Xavier, they found a gem.

"Perched high above French Hill with its steeples visible from many points in the city … this ‘Norman cathedral’ is the fifth-tallest structure in the state of New Hampshire, and has been deemed the ‘most commanding’ structure in the city of Nashua," said Jennifer Goodman, the executive director of the preservation alliance.

Built in the 1890s, the church stands as the tallest in the city and was the first in New Hampshire constructed with marble.

"This, built of beautiful marble and costing one hundred thousand dollars, with school and other buildings and cemetery, is a very handsome structure, and the pride of the parish," according to the Geneological and Family History of the State of New Hampshire, Volume 3.

The Sacred Heart Review in October 1898 reported that it is "the most commanding structure in the city, and is confessedly the most imposing church in New England, costing twice as much, (with others) far inferior to it in material and in architectural lines."

While there was extensive work completed in the early 1970s, the dwindling congregation, consolidating churches and mounting repair costs brought services to a standstill. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashua closed the church in 2003 and the property exchanged hands before it was sold to a Massachusetts-based Coptic church.

Now, the state’s preservation alliance says the church "is in urgent need of professional attention to its cracked marble exterior, as well as an ongoing preservation plan."

Its inclusion on the preservation list is a result of community and City Hall support.

James Vayo, a downtown specialist with the city’s planning and development department, called the church a community asset, though it is likely in need of repairs to safeguard it for the future.

We hope the necessary funds become available, whether it is through public and private partnerships or a coming together of Nashua’s strong interfaith coalition to lay out potential blueprints to keep this structure in good standing. Inclusion on the "Seven to Save" list will also open up grant opportunities for the city to properly assess the landmark.

Churches like St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic are more than just a place of worship; they represent an architectural link to Nashua’s past and are a stunning reminder of the large French Canadian immigrant population’s dedication to their faith and community.