Rivera Rescues New York Chruch

The former New York Yankees closer has renovated a long-vacant suburban church that will be the new home of his wife’s ministry starting Thursday.

The grey stone building had been a Presbyterian church but was abandoned in the 1970s and was eventually bought by New Rochelle, a diverse city of about 77,000 just 6 miles north of the Bronx.

Meanwhile, his wife’s congregation had been outgrowing its meeting place – the Rivera home.

Rivera told New York magazine last year, ”We only fit like 50 people, 60 people tops.” The congregation’s website says it ”felt the need to organize a local church that would not only present the message of salvation to its attendees, but also provide programs that would meet the needs of the less fortunate in the community.” ”He’s doing something not just for his faith but at the same time setting up a place where he can help kids,” said Brandon Steiner, a Rivera business partner whose sports memorabilia firm is headquartered in New Rochelle.

Villani said the church needed plenty of work: The bell tower had begun collapsing, and a new front wall needed to be built and new stained glass windows installed.