The Presbyterian Church of Clearfield

Partners for Sacred Places Announces New Program Assisting Rural Churches in Pennsylvania

The grant will support rural congregations as they preserve their buildings and invest in their communities

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, July 23, 2026 — Partners for Sacred Places announces the grantees of the Pennsylvania’s Faithful Fund. 

The Pennsylvania’s Faithful Fund supports and preserves historic houses of worship in rural communities where they serve as crucial civic spaces—meeting places, concert venues, childcare facilities, social service providers, food pantries, and more—sometimes the only ones for miles around. Sacred places have long been the heart of rural Pennsylvania communities and the roots of these institutions run deep. Preserving these historic spaces that house valuable neighborhood resources bolsters rural economic resilience and provides a more stable foundation for the next generation. 

The Pennsylvania Faithful Fund is supported by the 2025 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 

“Rural sacred places are important cultural landmarks and places for congregational life, but they also serve as economic powerhouses in their communities, and many of the people benefitting from them are not congregational members,” says Bob Jaeger, president of Partners for Sacred Places. “We are thrilled to partner with the National Park Service on the Pennsylvania’s Faithful Fund, making meaningful investments in these culturally rich rural communities.”

Partners will distribute $550,000 in grant funds available to preserve and restore historic sacred places as gathering spaces of economic and community significance in rural communities. Grants will range from $50,000 to $100,000, and awardees will also receive capacity-building training. 

Examples of supported projects include:

• Roof and tower repair, restoration or replacement;
• Structural repairs;
• Facade, window, and door restoration or repair;
• Building code compliance work.

List of Grant Awardees:

• St. John’s Episcopal Church – Bellefonte, PA
• United Church of Christ Hummelstown – Hummelstown, PA
• Historic Church of St. Peter – Brownsville, PA
• The Presbyterian Church of Clearfield – Clearfield, PA
• St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Sellersville, PA
• Brandywine Baptist Church – Chadds Ford, PA
• Hummelstown Area Historical Society (Zion Lutheran Church) – Hummelstown, PA