March 31-April 6, 2005

cityspace

Saving Grace

by Nicole Sarrubbo

Thanks to an upcoming grant program, Philadelphia-area places of worship will soon undergo much-needed face-lifts. With projects slated to start next year, Philadelphia's Partners for Sacred Places is leading the effort to protect historically significant structures from falling victim to development.

William Penn Foundation spokesman Brent Thompson, whose organization gave the Partners a $1.275 million challenge grant that will be matched by private donors, says there's concern that houses of worship aren't adequately protected as the "outstanding assets" they are. "These places are essential," says Bob Jaeger, executive director of Partners for Sacred Places, the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to such a mission. "They anchor our neighborhoods."

Jaeger's plan is to fund at least 20 of Philadelphia's sacred places during the next 18 months; he hopes to give up to $100,000 per institution. Although there are more than 1,000 historic sacred places regionally, the focus is on buildings that need the most work. It goes beyond the tangible, however.

"The bigger picture is about community-building," he says. "The survival of these sacred places means the survival of our urban areas."

To be eligible, sacred places must have architectural and historical significance, a de facto community center, an urgent need for major repairs and a strong congregation with committed leadership. Recipients will be required to participate in Partners' training and technical-assistance program, which prepares them for communitywide partnership-building and fund raising. Richard Kirk, a trustee at Calvary United Methodist Church, says his congregation will apply.

"This is a national crisis and it needs to be addressed," says Kirk, whose church is at 48th and Baltimore. "This fund approaches it in a holistic way because it's not just about the community programs or just about the buildings, but a combination of both."

Calvary worked with Partners in the mid-'90s to help establish community partnerships. At the time, the congregation nearly disbanded because of structural and financial problems. Today, they have community-center space and a cultural arts venue. Five congregations worship in the facilities and they've established two 12-step, and one food-referral program. They're currently working on a $330,000 remodeling project to rebuild the gables (stones above the Tiffany windows).

"Churches like this can never be built again for any amount of money," Kirk says, "It's about saving our national heritage."