The 2021 COHORT of the National Fund for Sacred Places
In October , Partners and the National Trust for Historic Preservation welcomed fifteen new congregations into the 2021 cohort of the National Fund for Historic Places . Collectively , these congregations are slated to receive over $ 2.3 million in grant funding . The congregations are :
• Amana Church Society – Middle Amana , Iowa
• Arch Street United Methodist Church – Philadelphia , Pa .
• Calvary United Methodist Church – Philadelphia , Pa .
• First Christian Church ( Nondenominational ) – Columbus ,
Ind .
• First Indian Presbyterian Church – Kamiah , Idaho
• First Presbyterian Church – Pittsburgh , Pa .
• Grace Episcopal Church – Newton Corner , Mass .
• Let Freedom Ring Foundation / First Baptist Church – Williamsburg , Va .
• Mount Zion United Methodist Church – Washington ,
D . C .
• Sacred Heart Parish ( Catholic ) – El Paso , Tex .
• St . Stephen United Methodist Church – Mesquite , Tex .
• St . Ann and the Holy Trinity ( Episcopal ) – Brooklyn , N . Y .
• St . John ' s Lafayette Square ( Episcopal ) – Washington ,
D . C .
• Tabernacle Baptist Church – Beaufort , S . C .
• Washington National Cathedral ( Episcopal ) – Washington , D . C .
Demand for National Fund support was greater than ever before . Over three hundred congregations submitted applications this year . The high number may reflect the fact that many congregations are taking on capital projects as the pandemic eases ; many congregations had pressed “ pause ” on their preservation projects last year and have resumed their planning efforts in 2021 .
New , more inclusive , artwork was recently unveiled at St . Vincent de Paul . Rachel Hildebrandt uncommon in big , old houses of worship contending with deferred maintenance ( at least , we see a lot of it at Partners ), it can have an effect on church morale over time .
St . Vincent de Paul was a good fit for the Fund given the significance of its congregation and building ; the impact of its programming ; its readiness to take on a major capital project , and its history of successful fundraising . The church ’ s proposed project , with a total cost of $ 1.2 million , included the repair and restoration of decorative plaster , the stabilization and conservation of deteriorated murals , the creation of new murals that include images of people of color , and wall painting . The Fund ’ s $ 250,000 grant helped to pay for scaffolding , plasterwork , and painting .
The work began in September of 2020 and concluded in April of this year , just in time for Holy Week . EverGreene Architectural Arts did the majority of the work and VITETTA Architects & Engineers oversaw the project , serving as a liaison between the parish and the conservators .
Although there is always more work to do , Germantown ’ s only Catholic parish shines once again — inside and out . Of the role of the National Fund , Fr . Peterka commented : “ We could not and would not have done it without your help .”
18 SACRED PLACES • FALL / WINTER 2021 / 22