The National Fund for Sacred Places :
A Glimpse into Completed Projects in 2022
by Blair Horton
Project Coordinator , Partners for Sacred Places
View of the scaffolding setup on San Xavier ' s East Tower . The uppermost portion has been removed to reveal the completed top . Patranato San Xavier
Across the country , congregations of every faith face shared challenges in stewarding their aging and often architecturally complex facilities . From roof leaks to the need for accessible entrances , managing historic sacred places in the 21st century requires good project planning and new approaches to funding .
In response to these challenges Partners for Sacred Places founded the National Fund for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation . The only program of its kind , the National Fund provides matching grants of $ 50-250,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects for purpose-built historic houses of worship . To ensure the success of each capital fundraising project , the National Fund provides congregations with wraparound services , including a $ 5,000 planning grant , capacity-building training , and tailored technical assistance .
Now in its sixth year , the National Fund has awarded $ 15,671,611 to 81 community-serving congregations representing 23 faith traditions in 35 states and the District of Columbia . We are excited to highlight two participants who have completed their capital projects in 2022 : San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson , Arizona and Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Baltimore , Maryland . From the Sonoran Desert to the bustling streets of Baltimore , the two seemingly polar opposite projects offer a glimpse into how the National Fund works with congregations across the United States to support the continued care and use of their historic properties as centers for community life .
San Xavier del Bac Mission , Tucson , Arizona
In 1692 , Father Eusbio Kino founded the San Xavier del Bac as a Catholic mission on the lands of the Toronto O ’ odham people . Three centuries later , the Mission continues to serve its surrounding community in the village of Wa : k as both a center of worship and community life . Today attendance for parish services averages 400 . In addition , the Mission supports a tuition-free K-8 school , provides a variety of counseling services , and hosts numerous annual festivals on its campus .
Architecturally , the church ’ s iconic twin-tower profile melds both the Spanish Baroque influence of master mason Ignacio Gaono and the local construction techniques utilizing the adobe and volcanic stone materials of the region . Constructed between 1783 and 1797 , the current church is the oldest intact non-native structure in Arizona . In recognition of the numerous heritage values of the site , the nonprofit Patranato San Xavier was founded to guide its continued preservation .
When Patranato came to the National Fund in 2018 , the focus of preservation efforts was clear — to stabilize and repair the East
12 SACRED PLACES • FALL / WINTER 2022 / 23