2001 Historic Religious Properties Grants and Technical Assistance Awards
10/8/01
The conference and awards ceremony was sponsored with the Church Restoration Group, a division of Mistick Construction. The Church Restoration Group provides historic restoration, renovation and construction services to religious properties throughout the east coast.
The program, now in its sixth year, assists architecturally significant religious properties that also provide social services to their neighborhoods, have a viable congregation, and are able to match the grant. Grants are to be used for architectural restoration projects of the structure.
Twenty-six applications for grants and technical assistance from historic religious institutions located throughout Allegheny County were reviewed and 18 received either grants or technical assistance. Applicable grants awarded this year included painting and pointing, roof repair, stained glass repair, water damage repair within a sanctuary, and repairs of exterior walls. Technical Assistance is directed to assisting congregations in prioritizing restoration projects and establishing preventative maintenance programs.
The following churches were awarded grants:
Emsworth United Presbyterian Church, Emsworth
First English Lutheran Church of Sharpsburg, Sharpsburg
First Presbyterian Church of Castle Shannon, Castle Shannon
Monumental Baptist Church, Hill District
New Life Community Baptist Church, North Braddock
Pittsburgh North Side Church of God, North Side
St. James A.M.E. Church, East End
St. Stephen, Hazelwood
Zion Christian Church, Carrick
Bellefield Presbyterian, Oakland
Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, North Side
Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church, Etna
The Church of the Good Shepherd, Hazelwood
Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Crafton
Old St. Lukes, Scott Township
St. Matthews A.M.E. Zion, Sewickley
Verona United Methodist Church, Verona
Wesley Center A.M.E. Zion, Hill District
The grants were awarded at a ceremony and seminar held at Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 33 Alice Street in Crafton. The seminar, held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., featured speakers offering successful strategies in fundraising, dealing with contractors, planning for disasters, and prolonging the life of the structure’s roof.
Alice Greller, Chairman of the Historic Religious Properties Committee and trustee of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation said, “Our seminars often impart information as valuable as the grants we award. It is a goal of Landmarks to continue to offer grants, technical assistance and the valuable information provided at these seminars.”
The Historic Religious Properties grants program is funded by year-end gifts from Landmarks members and trustees and from general funds budgeted by Landmarks.
Founded in 1964, Landmarks is a nonprofit historic preservation group serving Allegheny County. It is dedicated to identifying a preserving the architectural landmarks, historic neighborhoods, and historic design landscapes of Allegheny County, and to educating people about this region’s architectural heritage and urban and landscape design history.