Messiah Baptist Church, Yonkers
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 19 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $289,800 awarded to 17 historic religious properties throughout New York State, including $30,000 to Messiah Baptist Church in Yonkers, New York to help fund roof replacement.
Noted New York City-based ecclesiastical architect Lawrence Valk designed the church as the Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1880. Messiah Baptist Church has owned the church since 1965. Founded in 1875, Messiah Baptist Church is the oldest predominantly Black church congregation in Westchester County and has played a central role in both the Yonkers and Westchester County Black community since the late nineteenth century. The congregation reaches about 1,000 people a year through activities such as a feeding program and youth programming.
“Our 17 grantees serve over 70,000 people through feeding programs, 12-step groups, cultural and outreach programs,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “Our funding helps maintain important buildings which contribute to the social fabric of communities throughout the state.”
The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, along with technical assistance, and workshops. Since 1986, the program has pledged over 1,600 grants totaling over $13.5 million to 850 religious institutions statewide.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in nearly 2,000 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations, and individuals. The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.
