25-02-2025
The National Trust Just Awarded $8.5 Million to Preserve 30 Historic Black Churches
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund just announced it is awarding $8.5 million in preservation grants to 30 historically Black churches across the country.
The Preserving Black Churches grant program is aimed to help preserve Black churches that have long served as pillars of communities, sanctuaries of faith, and symbols of change and resilience throughout history. Since its inception in 2022, the Preserving Black Churches program has supported over 100 historic sites in the United States.
Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Fund, said in a press release, 'We are honored to support the ongoing legacies of these churches, which have stood at the forefront of social progress for generations. This $8.5 million investment marks a critical step in safeguarding historically Black Churches as enduring symbols of faith, strength, and community leadership. By preserving them, we ensure that their powerful presence continues to live on in their communities and inspire future generations.'
The $60 million initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., provides congregations with funding to address urgent preservation challenges and structural issues, as well as supporting stewardship and management plans. The 30 grantees this year include major stops on the Underground Railroad, landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement, and structures built by groundbreaking Black architects.
Constructed in 1926, Historic Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama played a crucial role during the Civil Rights Movement as an essential meeting place under the leadership of activist Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth. Funding from the grant program will help expand programming using virtual and augmented reality to allow visitors to understand Historic Bethel's rich history.
Another Birmingham church, St. Paul United AME Church, will also receive funding to build interactive exhibits for guests to learn about its role in civil rights activism. The landmark served as the first mass meeting spot following the first major campaign to desegregate Birmingham's public bus system.
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church, also known as 'The Freedom Church,' has remained a champion of abolition, civil rights, and spiritual empowerment since its establishment in 1796. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, its church congregation included historic leaders such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass. Funding will help AME Zion Church establish a denomination-wide Preservation Endowment to preserve historic AME Zion churches across the United States.
Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of music icon Aretha Franklin, commissioned the building of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan in 1961, which later served as the planning spot for the 1963 Walk to Freedom. It will receive funding to repair significant water damage to the building, its roof, exterior wall, and HVAC systems.
Head to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's website to learn more about the 30 churches awarded grants this year. To support the preservation of historic black churches, visit Might Also Like
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