National Trust for Historic Preservation: Return to home page

Rescuing Two Iconic Black Churches in Kentucky

Since 2022, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has been supporting historic Black churches and their congregations through our Preserving Black Churches program. Major structural decline, damage from climate change and natural disasters, and other challenges have threatened these religious and cultural centers which are central to their local communities and Black history across the United States. In this video, learn more about our work to support two churches in Kentucky who are fighting to protect their sacred houses of worship.

Preserving Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California

Through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches program, we are working with community members to preserve Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. Check out the video to learn more.

Preserving America's Historic Black Churches

Black churches have a story to tell. Since our nation was founded, Black churches have led at the forefront of critical and meaningful democratic reform in our society. From the abolition of slavery and segregation to the advent of civil rights and the expansion of voting rights, the Black church has been at the vanguard of change.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund in partnership with Lilly Endowment Inc. is investing $20M to help sustain historic Black churches across America.

Watch this video featuring:

• Reverend Arthur Price, Jr., pastor, 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
• Theodore Debro, chairman, board of trustees, 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
• Dr. Leroy Maxwell, president, board chairman, Historic Brown Chapel, AME Church Preservation Society, Inc., Selma, Alabama
• Brent Leggs, executive director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president, National Trust for Historic Preservation