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The National Fund for Sacred Places, a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has awarded a total of $2,165,000 to 16 historically significant congregations across the country. Immanuel Presbyterian Church is a recipient of $200,000 in funds to help restore the building due to water damage after a hail storm in 2018. The church, built in 1922 at 114 Carlisle Blvd SE in Nob Hill, was designed by architect John Gaw Meem.
The only initiative of its kind in the U.S., the National Fund for Sacred Places is a highly competitive program that supports vibrant congregations that have buildings of historical significance and architectural character and that play an essential role in meeting the larger spiritual, social and economic needs of the communities they serve, according to a press release. Now in its seventh year, the National Fund has awarded or pledged over $18 million to 97 community-serving congregations representing different faith traditions in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“The 16 sacred places selected to join our Fund this year are, yes, beautiful and historic buildings, but they are also irreplaceable assets that support the life and work of congregations and provide invaluable resources to their communities,” said Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Places. “I am so pleased that we have robust programs such as the National Fund that support the health of congregations and their towns or neighborhoods. Over the next few years, the team at Partners for Sacred Places will work closely and collaboratively with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help awardees to repair and renovate their buildings so they can grow their ministries and thrive for many years to come.”
The National Fund for Sacred Places is made possible thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc.
The National Fund 2022 grantees are:
- Arch Street Meeting House (Philadelphia, PA)
- Boynton Chapel United Methodist Church (Houston, TX)
- Calvary Baptist Church (Minneapolis, MN)
- Christ Church Detroit (Detroit, MI)
- Church of St. Francis of Assisi (San Juan, PR)
- Crossnore Presbyterian Church (Crossnore, NC)
- Dover Friends Meetinghouse (Dover, NH)
- East Mount Zion Baptist Church (Cleveland, OH)
- Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA)
- First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- Greenstone United Methodist Church (Chicago, IL)
- Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Albuquerque, NM)
- Saint Mark’s Church (Philadelphia, PA)
- St. Rita Catholic Church (Indianapolis, IN)
- Union United Methodist Church (Boston, MA)
- Wicker Park Lutheran Church (Chicago, IL)
Visit the National Fund for Sacred Places’ website (above) to learn more about the program, eligibility, participants and the value of sacred places in communities across the country.