The Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Committee recently met and pledged eight grants totaling $140,000 to religious institutions from Brooklyn to Buffalo. These grants will help fix roofs, masonry, towers, and wood window frames. We had fewer requests this round as congregations hesitate to take on major projects in an uncertain economy. But it’s hard to postpone repairs with water coming in.
The committee usually is treated to houses of worship in an array of architectural styles. But, this time, all the institutions were built in either the Gothic-Revival or Collegiate-Gothic style.
Mother A.M.E. Zion Church in Harlem, one of the grantees, is nationally and internationally significant. The current building was designed in 1923 by George W. Foster, Jr., one of the country’s first African American architects. This is the founding congregation of the world-wide A.M.E. Zion denomination, which was formed in Lower Manhattan in 1796.
Three other grant recipients also boast respected architects. Henry J. Hardenberg designed Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church, Delaware County. Bertram Goodhue designed St John’s Grace Episcopal Church in Buffalo. Andrew Jackson Warner designed St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in LeRoy, Genesee County.
Together, these eight grantee institutions serve more than 14,500 community members beyond their congregations with preschools, feeding programs, recovery meetings, health, and cultural programs.
The Sacred Sites Program has two grant rounds annually. Our next application deadline is January 15th, with those grants awarded in early May. Active historic religious institutions located in New York State are eligible to apply. For more information contact the Conservancy at 212-995-5260.
Grants, June 2020 grant round
Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, Harlem, New York, $30,000 for roof restoration
Trinity Baptist Church, Crown Heights North Historic District, Brooklyn, $15,000 for façade repairs
Durham United Methodist Church, Greene County, $5,000 for roof replacement
Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church, Roxbury, Delaware County, $30,000 for tower & masonry restoration
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Utica, $30,000 for masonry restoration
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, LeRoy, Genesee County, $10,000 for storm window restoration
First Presbyterian Church, Holley, Orleans County, $5,000 for roof repair
St. John’s Grace Episcopal Church, Buffalo, $15,000 for slate roof restoration
First Presbyterian Church, Holley, Western New York, $5,000 for roof repair
