Sources of Preservation Assistance for Historic Religious Properties

Religious properties often rank among a community's most important historic and architectural landmarks. Several specialized sources of information exist for congregations who own and maintain older buildings. They include:

Partners for Sacred Places

Partners for Sacred Places is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the sound stewardship and preservation of historic religious properties. Founded in 1989 by a national task force of concerned religious, preservation, and philanthropic leaders, Partners for Sacred Places works directly with those responsible for the care and future of the nation's historic churches and synagogues. Partners for Sacred Places operates an information clearinghouse in Philadelphia which contains books, periodicals, unpublished articles and papers, videotapes, and other state-of-the-art materials. The clearinghouse is available to answer questions by phone or mail about many subjects, including building repair and maintenance; working with architects and contractors to develop facilities master plans; finding consultants ranging from engineers and craftspeople to fire prevention specialists, steeplejacks, and energy conservation experts; successful strategies for fundraising and organizational capital campaigns; planning for the shared use of underutilized or excess space; and reuse of churches, synagogues, and auxiliary buildings. In addition to the clearinghouse, Partners for Sacred Places has a publication series, offers consulting services, has a traveling workshop series, an advocacy and outreach program, and publishes a newsletter. Partners for Sacred Places offers individual and association memberships. For more information, write Partners for Sacred Places, 1700 Sansom St., 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (215) 567-3234, FAX (215) 567-3235, e-mail partners@sacredplaces.org, or visit http://www.sacredplaces.org/index.htm.

Sacred Trusts

Sacred Trusts is a periodic national conference on the stewardship and preservation of historic religious properties. For more information contact Partners for Sacred Places.

The Complete Guide to Capital Campaigns for Historic Churches and Synagogues

The Complete Guide to Capital Campaigns for Historic Churches and Synagogues, by Peggy Powell Dean and Susanna A. Jones, offers step-by-step assistance for planning and executing a successful fundraising campaign. Learn how to ask members for money and find support from outside the congregation with this practical guide that can save you time and money ($50 plus $5 shipping). Write Partners for Sacred Places, 1700 Sansom St., 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (215) 567-3234, FAX (215) 567-3235, e-mail partners@sacredplaces.org, or visit http://www.sacredplaces.org/index.htm.

Cleveland Restoration Society Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program

Through its Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program, Cleveland Restoration Society provides technical assistance, workshops, and a referral service for congregations with historic religious properties in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga, and Lake counties. Technical assistance is available on-site, over the phone and through workshops, seminars, and tours. Congregations can request assistance with a variety of issues, including identifying and prioritizing needed work, finding contractors, and reviewing specifications and bids. Through CRS's Preservation Resource Center, information on topics such as roofing, masonry, and property stewardship are also available. For more information, contact Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program, Cleveland Restoration Society, Sarah Benedict House, 3751 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115-2705, (216) 426-3118, or visit http://www.clevelandrestoration.org/sacred.html.

Census of Stained Glass Windows in America

The Census of Stained Glass Windows in America, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 to establish a record, both historical and pictorial, of stained glass in the United States from the time of its first appearance. Windows of both American and European manufacture are included. The goal of the Census is to form an archive of artistic, historical, and technical information that will serve as a basis for study of stained glass. Linked to this study are CSGA publications and support for the preservation of the windows and their architectural context. For more information visit http://college.holycross.edu/organizations/csga/.

New York Landmarks Conservancy Publications

To order the following publications, write New York Landmarks Conservancy, 141 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010, call (212) 995-5260, or visit http://www.nylandmarks.org. Online, look under "Publications" for order forms and more information.

Common Bond. A newsletter on maintenance and preservation for owners of architecturally significant religious buildings, Common Bond is published three times a year by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in cooperation with concerned religious leaders. Each 20-page issue includes a feature on ecclesiastical architecture; a case study highlighting the preservation work of a congregation; technical features on building maintenance, repair, or restoration; and information on sources of financial and technical assistance. While the principal focus of the newsletter is New York State, the majority of the content is relevant to Ohio, as well ($15 for a one-year subscription). Some articles from past issues of Common Bond are also online at the New York Landmarks Conservancy web site.

Managing Repair & Restoration Projects: A Congregation's How-to Guide. This step-by-step guidebook explains the basics of project planning, management, and supervision to help laypeople and clergy undertake preservation and maintenance work ($20 plus $4 shipping and handling).

Inspecting and Maintaining Religious Properties. This practical guide to the inspection and maintenance of religious structures is addressed to building caretakers and professionals. The book contains chapters on the building envelope (roofs, walls, and drainage systems), structural systems, mechanical systems, energy cost-saving measures, and cyclical maintenance. Included are guidelines for organizing building records and implementing a maintenance program. Edited by the New York Landmarks Conservancy with chapters by Wesley Haynes, Andrew Rudin, and J. Thomas Ryan, P.E. ($15 plus $1.24 tax and $2.76 shipping).

National Trust for Historic Preservation Information Publications

To order the following publications in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Information series, write National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, or visit http://www.nthpbooks.org. Online, under 'Please Select a Category' choose 'Religious Properties.'

Conservation of Urban Religious Properties. A look at the conservation of historic religious properties in metropolitan areas, using five Chicago churches as examples. Non-member $6.00 / NTHP member $5.40 / NT Forum $4.50 Order #2I47

Strategies for the Stewardship and Active Use of Older and Historic Religious Properties. A guide to the preservation, restoration, and reuse of historic religious properties. Non-member $10.00 / NTHP member $9.00 / NT Forum $7.50 Order # 2I17

Preservation Briefs

Published by the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service, Preservation Briefs are short publications, each on a special topic in care and maintenance of older buildings. Though not specific to religious properties, many of them apply to any older building, including religious properties. Subjects include access for the disabled; additions; masonry cleaning, repair, and repointing; energy conservation; stained and leaded glass; interiors; paint; plaster; roofing; windows; and many other topics.

Preservation Briefs are available online at http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm. Hard copies may be purchased from the Government Printing Office using a major credit card by calling toll-free 1-866-512-1800 or from the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Bookstore using a secure order form. At the Online Bookstore, under 'Browse a Topic,' choose "Buildings, Landmarks, and Historic Sites," then scroll down to the heading "Preservation Methods." Complimentary single copies of many Preservation Briefs may also be available from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

Preserving Cemeteries

For information on preserving historic cemeteries, see the Ohio Historic Preservation Office fact sheet Guidelines for Cemetery Preservation.

For more information on preservation of religious properties contact the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.