Partners for Sacred Places

08/31/2026

A look at Christ Church, Philadelphia Farmers Market, open every Wednesday from 3-6 PM through September 2nd🥕

This is one of many events hosted by historic sacred places in Philadelphia as a part of our Founding Faiths initiative. Visitors get to explore founding congregations through a variety of events through the end of 2026 in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.⭐

Check out other events and learn more about Founding Faiths by clicking the 🔗: https://sacredplaces.org/250th-anniversary/

08/27/2026

Last chance to register! Webinar will take place today at 6:00 PM CT🌟

Just as ministry looks different in rural and small-town churches than other settings, so does property stewardship. No one knows this better than Emily Sajdak, Director of Rural Initiatives at Partners. Join us for a conversation that highlights successful strategies for rural and small-town congregations looking to use and manage their property in new and sustainable ways.👐

📅 August 27, 2026
🕑 6:00 PM, Central Time
⭐ Registration is required for all attendees!

Click the 🔗 to register: https://shorturl.at/liPWO

Thank you to the Church Property Resource Hub Team at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America inviting us to lead this webinar!

08/26/2026

Big challenges, tiny budgets, creative solutions. 💡✨

When Partners for Sacred Places visited St. Stephen's Episcopal—a wonderfully pint-sized church in New Harmony, IN—as part of our Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships initiative, they were facing a frustrating lighting problem and had very little money to fix it.

With a little teamwork and ingenuity, we helped them find a way to brighten up the space without breaking the bank! Proof that you don't need a massive renovation budget to make a sacred building shine. ⭐

Recently, New Harmony St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was able to host its very first concert in the sanctuary, featuring a performance by the band Swan Dive! 🎸🎶

We are so excited to see them continue hosting wonderful community events in their revitalized space!

📸Photo courtesy of St. Stephens Episcopal

08/24/2026

Last week, our National Fund for Sacred Places team went on their annual retreat with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Chicago, IL!⭐

During their visit they stopped at Wicker Park Lutheran Church, a 2022 grantee of the National Fund, for a tour of their building.

08/20/2026

A peek into our trip to the Catskills!🌲🏞️

Some of our staff had the honor of exploring a variety of congregations that are a part of the Mountaintop Cooperative Parish during their site visits in upstate New York. These visits are a part of the Thriving Cooperative Parish Initiative in collaboration with New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

It was such a joy to spend time learning about each congregation—and even better to do it in such a beautiful part of the country. We were even able to sneak in some time on their scenic trails! See the last photo for a look into our hike.⭐

08/19/2026

Just as ministry looks different in rural and small-town churches than other settings, so does property stewardship. No one knows this better than Emily Sajdak, Director of Rural Initiatives at Partners. Join us for a conversation that highlights successful strategies for rural and small-town congregations looking to use and manage their property in new and sustainable ways.👐

📅 August 27, 2026
🕑 6:00 PM, Central Time
⭐ Registration is required for all attendees!

Click the 🔗 to register: https://shorturl.at/liPWO

Thank you to the Church Property Resource Hub Team at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America inviting us to lead this webinar!

08/13/2026

Last Sunday we lead a tour to several historic, sacred sites around Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia!🏛️

Attendees learned and experienced outstanding examples of religious architecture in the Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival styles in the area that traces the city’s development west of Broad Street from the mid-19th century through the Gilded Age.

This tour was made possible in partnership with the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia⭐

Learn about other events happening in Philadelphia to celebrate our Nation's 250th by visiting the 🔗: https://sacredplaces.org/250th-anniversary/

08/11/2026

We are so excited to announce our grantees of the Pennsylvania Faithful Fund! 🌾

The selected congregations have been chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and serve as crucial civic spaces for their rural communities. Supporting these historic sacred places is vital to sustain important neighborhood resources that bolster rural economic resilience, and provides a more stable foundation for the next generation.👐

Learn more about the PA Faithful Fund and see the full list of grantees by clicking the 🔗 below!

Partners for Sacred Places recently announced the Pennsylvania’s Faithful Fund grant awardees, and among them is St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sellersville.

08/11/2026

It's not too late! Click the 🔗 below to register for the Faith and Form virtual presentation and learn more about the 2026 winners!

Since 1978 the Faith & Form Awards have honored the best in architecture, liturgical design, and art for religious spaces. This year you will have the chance to learn more about the 12 winning projects from the jury and the awardees via a FREE presentation.⭐🏛️

📅 August 12, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
📍 Zoom Meeting, YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND
👷‍♂️Members of the AIA will receive 2 Learning Units

Space is limited, click the 🔗 to register today: https://shorturl.at/HGVH5

08/10/2026

Our annual photo contest is back for the third year!📸

In honor of our nation's semiquincentennial, we want to highlight the important roles historic churches, synagogues, meetinghouses, temples, and mosques play in their local communities and United States history! This year's theme is “250 Years of Religious Diversity.” We invite amateur and professional photographers alike to submit your photos, starting August 3, 2026. ⭐

This year's categories are:
💃The Arts
👐Spiritual Moments
🏛️Architecture & Open Space
👪Community

Learn more about prizes (up to $500!) and how to submit your photos by clicking the 🔗 - https://shorturl.at/7WLFQ