Seven congregations around the state have received grants from Indiana Landmarks through the Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address significant capital needs at their historic houses of worship. The awards mark the first round of grants since the fund was established in 2023 with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

More than $2 million in grants will be distributed to the following congregations:

Broadway United Methodist Church, Indianapolis: $400,000 to complete urgent restoration work on the bell tower and limestone façade of the 1927 church building.

First Christian Church, Bloomington: $250,000 to replace heating and cooling systems at the 1917-19 church.

Meridian Street United Methodist Church, Indianapolis: $40,000 to remove and repair an exterior ramp and reconstruct limestone steps and iron handrails at the church built in 1951-52.

North United Methodist Church, Indianapolis: $250,000 for masonry repairs to halt water infiltration into the 1925-31 church’s sanctuary and 1951 education wing.

Park Place Church of God, Anderson: $300,000 for masonry repairs on the church steeple, the first phase of a broader restoration planned for the 1958-60 building.

Saint Adalbert Catholic Church, South Bend: $400,000 for exterior repairs to mitigate water infiltration causing damage to historic interior features, the first phase of comprehensive plan to restore the 1923-26 church.

Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Michigan City: $400,000 to address urgently needed repairs to the 1916-26 church’s twin bell towers.

“We face increasing calls for help from congregations struggling to maintain their historic facilities,” says David Frederick, director of Sacred Places Indiana. “By offering this critical funding, we hope to help institutions continue to thrive as spiritual centers in their communities.”

“Indiana’s historic places of worship are, arguably, the most remarkable collective body of historic buildings in our state. They have relevance beyond the congregations who worship there,” says Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks. “We are profoundly grateful to Lilly Endowment for sharing and empowering our vision of a sustainable future for these community assets.”

Applications for the next round of grants from Sacred Places Indiana are being accepted now through July 15, 2024. Congregations selected to participate will be notified in October 2024.

Historic churches that have identified significant capital needs, have the support of their judicatories, and are ready to undertake a capital campaign could be candidates for the Sacred Places Indiana Fund.

The fund awards matching grants in a competitive process. Selected congregations must be committed to good stewardship of their historic structures and have demonstrated signs of organizational health including established clergy and lay leadership, clearly defined project goals, stable or growing membership, community engagement, and financial strength and stability. Congregations should be ready to undertake and complete both a capital campaign and construction project within the next two years.

To learn more about Sacred Places Indiana and criteria for grant funding, visit www.indianalandmarks.org/sacred-places-indiana.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
David Frederick, Director, Sacred Places Indiana, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, 317-822-7952 (direct), dfrederick@indianalandmarks.org.

Mary Scharnberg, Associate Director, Sacred Places Indiana, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, 317-822-7916 (direct), mscharnberg@indianalandmarks.org.

Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.