HOUSTON – The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has awarded $8.5 million in grants to 30 historically Black churches, including Boynton United Methodist Church in Houston, as part of its third annual Preserving Black Churches program.
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The initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., aims to protect and sustain Black churches that have served as pillars of their communities. Since its founding in 2017, the Action Fund has raised over $150 million, making it the nation’s largest resource dedicated to preserving African American historic sites.
Preserving Houston’s legacy
Boynton United Methodist Church, established in 1880, has been a key part of Houston’s Third Ward community for more than a century. Its current Midcentury Modern structure, completed in 1958, was designed by Texas’ first licensed Black architect, John S. Chase. In 2023, it was recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Grant funding will support restoration efforts, including the preservation of the church’s windows and masonry, ensuring its continued role as a cultural and spiritual cornerstone in Houston.
A nationwide effort
Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, emphasized the program’s importance in maintaining these historic institutions.
“This $8.5 million investment marks a critical step in safeguarding historically Black churches as enduring symbols of faith, strength, and community leadership,” Leggs said. “By preserving them, we ensure their powerful presence continues to inspire future generations.”
Grants, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, will assist churches in addressing structural challenges, deferred maintenance, and demolition threats. The initiative also aims to strengthen asset management, fundraising, and stewardship planning.
Other churches receiving grants include:
- A.M.E. Zion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina – Funding to establish a preservation endowment for AME Zion churches nationwide.
- Historic Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama – Support for augmented reality programming to educate visitors on its Civil Rights history.
- New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan – Restoration efforts to reverse water damage at the church, a key site in the city’s Civil Rights movement.
The Preserving Black Churches program is a $60 million initiative designed to safeguard and sustain historically Black churches across the United States.
For more information on the program and grant recipients, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation website.