INDIANAPOLIS – Seventeen congregations around the state have received grants from Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address significant capital needs at their historic houses of worship. The awards mark the second round of grants since the fund was established last year with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.
More than $2.4 million in grants will be distributed to the following congregations:
- Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Indianapolis: $60,000 to restore stained glass at the 1927 church.
- First Christian Church, New Castle: $125,000 for repairs to the 1958 church’s bell tower.
- Gobin United Methodist Church, Greencastle: $260,000 to replace the original slate roof on the 1928 church.
- Irvington Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis: $180,000 to repair exterior masonry and heating and cooling systems at the 1929 church.
- Mount Zion Baptist Church, Indianapolis: $100,000 to replace the roof and repair heating and cooling systems at the 1960 church.
- New Circle Church, Indianapolis: $50,000 for roof, masonry, and other exterior repairs at the 1921 church.
- Roberts Park United Methodist Church, Indianapolis: $75,000 for roof repairs at the 1876 church.
- Sisters of Providence, Terre Haute: $150,000 to replace the fire suppression system in the 1891 Church of the Immaculate Conception at the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods campus.
- Saint Benedict Cathedral, Evansville: $200,000 to replace a heating and cooling systems air handler in the 1927 church.
- Saint Joseph Catholic Parish, Mishawaka: $400,000 to replace the original slate roof on the 1891 church.
- Saint Mark’s United Church of Christ, New Albany: $67,000 to repair masonry on the church’s 1968 education building.
- Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, New Albany: $70,000 to repair the foundation of the 1895 church.
- Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Haysville: $135,000 for repairs to heating and cooling systems and boiler piping in the 1948 church.
- Saint Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Indianapolis: $80,818 to rehabilitate the 1929 church’s bell tower.
- Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Catholic Church, South Bend: $125,000 for structural repairs under the 1900 church’s sanctuary.
- Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne: $275,000 for masonry and structural repairs at the 1866 church.
- Trinity United Methodist Church, Lafayette: $100,000 to restore the 1872 church’s stained glass.
“We continue to receive calls for help from congregations who need assistance in maintaining their historic facilities,” says David Frederick, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Program. “By offering this critical funding, we hope to help congregations and parishes continue to thrive as spiritual centers and make vital contributions to their communities.”
Historic churches that have identified significant capital needs, have the support of their judicatories, and are ready to undertake a capital campaign could be candidates for the Sacred Places Indiana Fund.
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The fund awards matching grants in a competitive process. Selected congregations must be committed to good stewardship of their historic structures and have demonstrated signs of organizational health including established clergy and lay leadership, clearly defined project goals, stable or growing membership, community engagement, and financial strength and stability. Congregations should be ready to undertake and complete both a capital campaign and construction project within the next two years.
Applications will for the next round of grants from the Sacred Places Indiana Fund will be accepted in mid-January 2025. Interested congregations are encouraged to submit a letter of interest.
