Cathedral Receives Generous Grant to Support Earthquake Repairs
WASHINGTON — Today Washington National Cathedral announced that it received a new $250,000 grant to make major repairs following damage to the Cathedral from the 2011 earthquake that hit the Washington, D.C. region. The grant is from the National Fund for Sacred Places, a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In addition to this funding, the Cathedral will raise a further $500,000 in matching funds. The $750,000 total will enable the Cathedral to fully repair and restore several large buttresses along the South side of the Cathedral’s exterior, and to reopen a handicapped-accessible entrance that has been largely inaccessible since the earthquake.
After scaffolding is erected along much of the Cathedral’s Southern face, crews will dismantle the intricate pinnacles atop the damaged buttresses, drill 30-foot holes into the Indiana limestone, insert stainless steel reinforcement rods and then reassemble the pinnacles. The Cathedral’s stone carvers will re-carve damaged elements—such as corners and mouldings—and all mortar will be inspected, repaired and repointed. Initial work is already underway, and the full scope of work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
“We are immensely grateful to the National Fund for Sacred Places for its support in the restoration and reopening of this national house of prayer for all people,” said the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the Cathedral. “The Cathedral has received the prayers and petitions of generations of Americans, and it is vital that we shore up these walls to meet a new century of ministry to the nation at moments of great sadness and celebration.”
Awardees of the 2021 round of grant funding from the National Fund for Sacred Places receive $50,000 – $250,000, based on their need and capacity to match funds during respective capital campaigns.
“Organizations like Washington National Cathedral have a true commitment to service, offer tremendous civic value to their community, and these congregations are well poised to grow and thrive in the future,” said Bob Jaeger, president of Partners for Sacred Places. “We look forward to working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Cathedral to restore their building, help preserve an important piece of history, and support the expansion of their community offerings.”
The National Fund for Sacred Places will be providing over $20 million to more than 100 congregations over the next eight years. These matching grants are awarded to healthy congregations across the country to help restore their buildings and to continue extending their ministries and outreach to the community.
To be contacted with spokespeople from the National Cathedral or National Fund for Sacred Places, please contact Tony Franquiz at [email protected] or 202-374-5393.
MEDIA CONTACT
Tony Franquiz, 202-374-5393
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About Washington National Cathedral
Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived by our founders to serve as a great church for national purposes.
National Fund for Sacred Places
The National Fund for Sacred Places is a Philadelphia-based grant-making program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. fundforsacredplaces.org
About Partners for Sacred Places
Partners for Sacred Places helps congregations and others with a stake in older religious properties make the most of them as civic assets that serve the broader community. sacredplaces.org
About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America’s rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation’s diversity. Follow us on Twitter @savingplaces.