PHLF Awards Grants to 11 Historic Religious Properties
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) has awarded $70,000 in grants and technical assistance to 15 congregations as part of its 2013 Historic Religious Properties (HRP) Grants program. The awards were announced at the annual awards ceremony held on February 28.
The HRP Program is funded by gifts from PHLF members, trustees, and several private foundations. We thank all who contributed in 2012. Piloted in 1993 with an initial grant from The Allegheny Foundation, the program awarded its first full cycle of grants in 1997. After the 2013 grants are paid out, grant totals will exceed $935,000 and will have leveraged over $3.4 million in preservation projects.
“We’re very proud of this program! It provides important help—both financial and technical—to congregations throughout the region who want to preserve their worship sites,” said George Dorman, Committee chairman. “This is great and important work, and we heartily congratulate the congregations who are so committed to this marvelous effort.”
Eleven congregations received grants; four received technical assistance awards. Grants awarded this year included stained glass restoration, masonry work, roof and gutter repairs, exterior painting, and steeple repairs. Technical assistance was awarded to congregations to help prioritize restoration projects and establish preventive maintenance programs.
The following churches were awarded grants:
- Birmingham United Church of Christ, Carrick
- Bower Hill Community Church, Mt. Lebanon
- First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Downtown
- First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oakland
- Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, Glenshaw
- Riverview United Presbyterian Church, Perry North/Observatory Hill
- Sacred Heart Church, Shadyside
- St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Shadyside
- St. Paul of the Cross Monastery, South Side Slopes
- St. Peter Church, Allegheny Center/North Side
- Valley Presbyterian Church, Findley Twp./Imperial
The following churches will receive technical assistance:
- Fairhaven United Methodist Church, Overbrook
- First United Methodist Church of McKeesport
- Sixth Presbyterian Church, Squirrel Hill
- Valley Presbyterian Church, Findley Twp./Imperial
Twenty-four applications for grants and technical assistance from historic religious institutions located throughout Allegheny County were reviewed this year and the requests for assistance totaled $179,000
The HRP Program assists architecturally-significant religious properties that are more than 50 years old, that have an active congregation, that provide social services in their communities, and are able to match the grant. Grants are to be used for exterior restoration projects on the main structure of the historic religious property.