A Beacon of Hope

For nearly 100 years, the limestone bell tower of Broadway United Methodist Church has ascended as a waymark above Indianapolis’s Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood, beckoning followers to the house of worship. But by 2023, the distinctive feature needed urgent repairs to address water infiltration and structural instability—issues that placed the iconic tower and connected sanctuary in serious jeopardy.

This year, Broadway UMC’s congregation celebrated completion of the tower’s top-to-bottom rehabilitation, a $925,000 project that included replacing historic stone, treating tuckpointing and structural issues, cleaning the limestone, and installing a new bell tower roof. Aided by a $400,000 matching capital grant from Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Indiana Fund, the project not only secured the historic building’s future, it also elevated awareness of the church’s extensive outreach and important status as a neighborhood anchor.

On any given day, the English Gothic-style building bustles with activity. The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra shares space in the education building, and more than 200 students come to Broadway for weekly stringed instrument lessons and orchestra rehearsals. Drug Free Marion County, Arts With a Purpose, and Constructing Our Future (a nonprofit focused on housing and support for previously incarcerated women) are just a few of the groups that make a home at Broadway UMC.

Although the congregation knew that the 112-foot bell tower needed repair, the daunting cost and worries over its ability to raise funds presented significant obstacles. The matching grant from Sacred Places Indiana gave the project new focus and energy, and most importantly a path forward. With scaffolding enveloping the historic bell tower, the restoration project became a high-profile sign of life and vibrancy for the congregation and the surrounding community, including hundreds of motorists that travel the Fall Creek Parkway corridor every day.

PHOTO: Evan Hale

The increased visibility gave Broadway UMC an opportunity to connect with community leaders and opened the door to new partnerships, including local philanthropists interested in providing support for youth arts programming. The project also prompted meaningful conversations with church members inspired by the restoration. The congregation’s partnership with Sacred Places Indiana assured key donors that the project would be successful both financially and from a preservation standpoint—stabilizing a beloved building while ensuring its historic character remains intact.

“We have completed a fundraising feasibility study for phase two of exterior restoration, and we are confident the skills and experience we gained on this project will help us in this endeavor,” says Pastor Aaron Hobbs. “We look forward to what lies ahead and appreciate Sacred Places Indiana helping us take a big step forward as we seek to be a beacon of hope and light in our neighborhood and city.”

This article first appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of Indiana Preservation, Indiana Landmarks’ member magazine.