Church gets a custom-built house for Christmas

The Fourth Annual Dickens Yuletide Bazaar at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May have inspired their new pastor, Rev. Jim Richards, to build a model Victorian house for the bazaar’s silent auction.
Richards was installed as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in August and has since been an enthusiastic supporter of the church’s projects. His offer to use his model-building skills to benefit the bazaar was immediately and gratefully accepted.
So far, Richards has spent 80 hours putting together hundreds of pieces of the house (including 37 pieces to make each bay window), painting the pieces in eight different colors and using tools including exacto knives, tweezers, hemostats, small brushes, and five different adhesives, plus wearing a magnifier on his head. He expects to spend at least 20 hours more creating a gazebo, a wrought iron and masonry fence, landscaping and “people with a dog” on the porch.
The house is painted in early Victorian colors, which are muted earth tones. Another Victorian feature are the tiny amber windows around the doors.
Needlework, books, attic treasures, Christmas greenery, jewelry, baked goods, hand-made gifts, theme baskets, and a silent auction will again be offered at the bazaar.
New this year are Christmas cards with a photograph of the church’s recently restored stained glass windows and a dessert cookbook, “Saintly Sweets,” which includes delicious recipes from dozens of kitchens.
And of course, a model Victorian house will also be part of the silent auction,
Breakfast snacks and lunch will be available, with desserts from the baked goods table.
The Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Decatur and Hughes streets. The bazaar will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 15.