17 historic churches across Indiana receive over $2M in grants for repairs, two in St. Joseph County

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Indiana Landmarks announced 17 historic churches across the state, including two in St. Joseph County, have received a combined $2.4 million dollars in grants from the Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address repair needs.

Officials say these awards mark the second round of grants since the fund's establishment in 2023 with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

In our area:

• Saint Joseph Catholic Parish, Mishawaka - $400,000 to replace the original slate roof on the 1891 church.
• Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Catholic Church, South Bend - $125,000 for structural repairs under the 1900 church’s sanctuary.

“We continue to receive calls for help from congregations who need assistance in maintaining their historic facilities,” said Director of Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Program David Frederick. “By offering this critical funding, we hope to help congregations and parishes continue to thrive as spiritual centers and make vital contributions to their communities.”

Officials say the fund awards matching grants in a competitive process.

According to officials, the awarded congregations must be committed to good stewardship of their historic structures and demonstrate signs of organizational health, including established clergy, clearly defined project goals, stable or growing membership, community engagement, and financial strength and stability.

Officials say congregations should also be ready to complete both a capital campaign and construction project within the next two years.

Applications for the next round of grants from the Sacred Places Indiana Fund will be accepted in mid-January 2025.

Interested congregations can submit a letter of interest and learn more about Sacred Places Indiana, including criteria for grant funding, online