Grants Help Congregations Renovate Historic Religious Properties

A crew from Alex Restoration and Masonry Repairs worked on the renovation of the bell cot of Pittsburgh New Church in Point Breeze in May. The work included the removal of the existing mortar and caulking in the church’s bell tower, which was leaking. The tower’s renovated masonry was to be cleaned and its color and texture matched to the building’s exterior as much as possible.
 
The work was done in part thanks to a grant from the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation’s (PHLF) Historic Religious Properties Grant Program. Pittsburgh New Church was one of 16 congregations in Allegheny County that were awarded a total of $120,000 as part of the 2023 funding cycle.
 
PHLF is delighted to see the progress of this particular project, and look forward to seeing other congregations take on their restoration, renovation, and maintenance projects on their historic structures. The work ranges from masonry restoration to roof repairs, and renovation of wooden doors, and stained-glass windows, among other needs.
 
The PHLF is the only nonprofit organization in Allegheny County offering a continuing program of financial and technical assistance to historic religious property owners. They have awarded more than 290 such grants totaling more than $1.5 million, and provided more than 60 technical assistance consultations, since the program’s inception in 1997.
 
This effort is made possible through individual donations, private foundations, and their Donor Advised Funds. For more information about this program, contact David Farkas: david@phlf.org or 412-471-5808 ext. 516.