Charleston, South Carolina – On Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded a grant to a historic Charleston Catholic church to aid with the ongoing restoration of the church’s spire, which has suffered weather damage during its long history.
St. Patrick Catholic Church members initially learned about the grant program while looking for methods to fund an ongoing capital campaign to rebuild numerous elements of the aging worship facility.
The National Fund for Sacred Places program provides annual support to historic and architecturally significant faith communities in the United States. The initiative provided financing to St. Patrick Catholic Church, as well as 29 other organizations, for 2025.
The $500,000 funding will be used to fund a spire restoration project, which Rev. JohnBosco Ikemeh estimates will cost $1 million.
According to Rev. Ikemeh, the majority of the damage to the steeple was caused by Hurricane Hugo, which passed into Charleston in 1989.
When Rev. Ikemeh and his parishioners learned they had been chosen for financial aid, he had just finished lecturing on the need of praying continuously in times of need. He used the abbreviation PUSH, which stands for Pray Until Something Happens.
“Interestingly, we received the news shortly after that Sunday… “It means everything to us,” Rev. Ikemeh remarked.
The existing Gothic Revival structure, built between 1886 and 1887 by Brooklyn architect Patrick Charles Keely, has endured nearly 150 years of history.
That history includes an earthquake, a fire, a storm, and turbulent eras of racial division, though the church has never been segregated since its inception in 1838.
“You don’t have to be a Catholic to appreciate what this church stands for. Unfortunately, at this time of heightened division, segregation, and hatred, St. Patrick stands as a beacon of light, demonstrating that when we come together, we are stronger,” Rev. Ikemeh stated.
Other upgrades being made as part of the capital campaign include replacing the structure’s aged bricks, installing new flooring, painting, and repairing other failing areas. To learn more about the initiative, go to the church website.
Additionally, the Diocese of Charleston recently designated St. Patrick Catholic Church as an African American Heritage Center.
Rev. Ikemeh stated that the center will be in the lower church, which will be restored following the spire restoration. The center’s plans include youth programs, historical relics, and live music by Grammy-winning singer Charlton Singleton.
