A historic Black church that sits in the Farish Street Neighborhood Historic District of Jackson recently received a $200,000 grant to assist with repairs to the church’s roof and structural beams impacted by a decade of harsh weather conditions.
On Jan. 15, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced it is granting a portion of $4 million to 31 sites throughout the United States aimed at preserving, protecting and expanding African American history.
Central United Methodist Church in Jackson was one of those recipients.
Tiffany Tolbert, senior director for preservation for the African American Cultural Heritage Action sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said that it’s important to tell a “full story of this country and the contributions of African Americans.”
“We recognize the historic significance of the (Central UMC) building but also the role of the church in the congregation,” Tolbert said. “There in Farish Street District they continue to serve as a community gathering space and a place for programming and education. We were very excited to support their dedication to preserving that historic building, so that they can continue in their legacy.”