Historic West Philly Church Awarded National Preservation Grant
Calvary is one of 15 historic congregations across the United States recently awarded a prestigious grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. The Fund is managed by Partners for Sacred Places, based in Philadelphia, in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Arch Street United Methodist Church, in Center City Philadelphia, also received an award. Each congregation will receive a matching grant of up to $250,0000 to support its project, and will be able to work with consultants at the Fund to ensure a successful outcome.
“We are honored and thrilled to be among the churches selected to receive this award,” said Calvary’s pastor, Rev. Tim Emmett-Rardin. “Our congregation has a rich legacy engaging the intersection of spirituality and justice, and our building has long served as a vibrant center of community activity. Working with various neighborhood partners, we look forward to further expanding the flexibility, accessibility and sustainability of our historic space – and so to further deepening our commitment to community ministry and ongoing efforts for justice and peace.”
The grant will support an ambitious capital campaign to be launched in early 2022 by the Calvary Center for Culture and Community(CCCC), a separate nonprofit organization established by the church 20 years ago to manage the building. Backed by an additional $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) matching grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, awarded to the CCCC last year, funds raised will enable major repairs and renovations.
“It's an exciting development,” said Rich Kirk, CCCC Board President and a longtime member of the congregation. "This grant, together with our recent RACP grant, forms a solid basis for funding to make the Calvary building safer and more structurally sound, more versatile for multipurpose use, more energy efficient, more accessible, and more comfortable for the variety of user groups we host.”
TheNational Fund for Sacred Placesis a unique and highly competitive program that supports congregations with buildings that have historical significance and architectural character and that play an essential role in meeting the larger social, economic, and spiritual needs of the communities they serve. During these uncertain and turbulent times, both large and small congregations are being challenged to care for and share their historic buildings in new ways that benefit both members and their larger communities. The Fund recognizes their contributions and seeks to support their efforts.
“The 15 sacred places selected to join our Fund this year are more than beautiful houses of worship. They are irreplaceable civic assets that provide invaluable resources to their communities, sharing space for everything from COVID-19 vaccinations to nutritional food programs and child care programs,” said Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Places. “I am so pleased that we have tailored programs that preserve and uplift civic assets to improve communities and enrich lives. 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 renovate their buildings so they can grow their ministries and thrive for many years to come.”
”The National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to support the community landmarks and historic treasures represented by the 15 congregations joining the Fund this year,” said Paul Edmondson, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “These places . . . illuminate the rich diversity of our American heritage and provide essential resources and services to their communities, particularly in these difficult times.”
In its sixth year, The National Fund for Sacred Placeshas been made possible thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc.The Fund and its supporters are working together to increase awareness of the value, resiliency, and vital contributions congregations offer.
Calvary is one of 15 historic congregations across the United States recently awarded a prestigious grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. The Fund is managed by Partners for Sacred Places, based in Philadelphia, in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Arch Street United Methodist Church, in Center City Philadelphia, also received an award. Each congregation will receive a matching grant of up to $250,0000 to support its project, and will be able to work with consultants at the Fund to ensure a successful outcome.
“We are honored and thrilled to be among the churches selected to receive this award,” said Calvary’s pastor, Rev. Tim Emmett-Rardin. “Our congregation has a rich legacy engaging the intersection of spirituality and justice, and our building has long served as a vibrant center of community activity. Working with various neighborhood partners, we look forward to further expanding the flexibility, accessibility and sustainability of our historic space – and so to further deepening our commitment to community ministry and ongoing efforts for justice and peace.”
The grant will support an ambitious capital campaign to be launched in early 2022 by the Calvary Center for Culture and Community(CCCC), a separate nonprofit organization established by the church 20 years ago to manage the building. Backed by an additional $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) matching grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, awarded to the CCCC last year, funds raised will enable major repairs and renovations.
“It's an exciting development,” said Rich Kirk, CCCC Board President and a longtime member of the congregation. "This grant, together with our recent RACP grant, forms a solid basis for funding to make the Calvary building safer and more structurally sound, more versatile for multipurpose use, more energy efficient, more accessible, and more comfortable for the variety of user groups we host.”
TheNational Fund for Sacred Placesis a unique and highly competitive program that supports congregations with buildings that have historical significance and architectural character and that play an essential role in meeting the larger social, economic, and spiritual needs of the communities they serve. During these uncertain and turbulent times, both large and small congregations are being challenged to care for and share their historic buildings in new ways that benefit both members and their larger communities. The Fund recognizes their contributions and seeks to support their efforts.
“The 15 sacred places selected to join our Fund this year are more than beautiful houses of worship. They are irreplaceable civic assets that provide invaluable resources to their communities, sharing space for everything from COVID-19 vaccinations to nutritional food programs and child care programs,” said Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Places. “I am so pleased that we have tailored programs that preserve and uplift civic assets to improve communities and enrich lives. 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 renovate their buildings so they can grow their ministries and thrive for many years to come.”
”The National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to support the community landmarks and historic treasures represented by the 15 congregations joining the Fund this year,” said Paul Edmondson, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “These places . . . illuminate the rich diversity of our American heritage and provide essential resources and services to their communities, particularly in these difficult times.”
In its sixth year, The National Fund for Sacred Placeshas been made possible thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc.The Fund and its supporters are working together to increase awareness of the value, resiliency, and vital contributions congregations offer.