Historic Black Churches Receive Millions in Restoration Grants

Dozens of historic Black churches across the United States are receiving millions of dollars in preservation funding. This effort aims to protect institutions that have long been central to faith, culture, and civil rights in African American communities.

Through the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, new grants totaling $8.5 million have been awarded to 33 historically Black churches nationwide. This is under the Preserving Black Churches program.

This funding will support essential repairs, preservation planning, and long-term sustainability efforts for congregations that manage these historic places of worship.

These new awards follow an additional $5 million announced earlier this year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It brings the program’s total investment in Black churches in 2026 to $13.5 million.

Grants range from $50,000 to $500,000. It supports projects like structural stabilization, accessibility improvements, and conservation work on aging church buildings.

Safeguarding Pillars of Black History

Many historically Black churches across the United States face growing maintenance challenges. Built decades or even centuries ago, these structures often need costly restoration work that smaller congregations find hard to afford.

Yet preservation advocates emphasize that these spaces offer much more than just a place to worship.

According to reports, Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund says, “America’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable legacy of our nation’s historically Black churches.”

“They are essential civic institutions that have anchored democracy, community leadership, and collective care for generations.”

Black churches have historically been centers for civil rights activism, education, mutual aid, and political engagement. These are roles that reach far beyond their religious mission.

A Nationwide Preservation Effort

The Preserving Black Churches initiative is part of a larger $60 million national program supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. It aims at protecting historic Black American religious landmarks while enhancing their role in modern communities.

Since its launch, the program has funded preservation efforts for over 170 historically Black churches across the United States. It has distributed nearly $34 million in grants to date.

The Action Fund administers this effort. The program was set up in 2017 to protect sites that represent African American history and culture.

From Harlem to Brooklyn and Beyond

According to reports, this year’s grant recipients include Mount Morris Ascension Church in Harlem and Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, which will use the funding to address preservation and maintenance needs.

Across the nation, many similar churches are facing aging infrastructure, postponed maintenance, and rising restoration costs. Preservation experts warn that without targeted investment, many of these landmarks might deteriorate or close.

The new funding aims to reverse this trend. It provides both financial support and technical expertise to congregations responsible for safeguarding these historic sites.

Preserving More Than Buildings

For historians and community leaders, protecting historic Black churches also means preserving cultural memory.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Black churches acted as hubs for civil rights organizing and community advocacy. In many cities and towns, they were among the few institutions fully controlled by African Americans.

Supporters of this initiative believe that maintaining these spaces ensures future generations can continue to learn from this legacy.

“Preservation isn’t just about bricks and mortar,” Leggs has said in describing the program’s mission. “It’s about protecting the stories and leadership traditions that shaped the nation.”

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, preservation advocates argue that safeguarding historically Black churches will be crucial to ensuring the country’s full history is preserved. It remains visible and protected for future generations.