Defining National Register of
Historic Places and National
Historic Landmark Designations
The National Register of Historic
Places includes historic buildings,
structures, districts, sites, and objects
that are significant to local, state, or
national history. Generally, religious
structures qualify for the National
Register when their significance is
derived from architectural distinction
or historical importance. Only religious
structures listed on the basis of national
significance are eligible for Save
America’s Treasures (SAT) grants.
National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) have
greater significance. As defined by the
National Park Service, these buildings
“possess exceptional value or quality in
illustrating or interpreting the heritage of
the United States.” There are less than
2,500 NHLs in the country, compared to
80,000 properties (comprising over 1.4
million individual resources) listed on the
National Register. Religious structures
that receive SAT grants are generally
listed as National Historic Landmarks,
though this is not a requirement of the
program.
Listing on the National Register or as
a National Historic Landmarks is an
honorary title, and carries no restrictions
on the use of a property, changes to a
property, or demolition of a property.
In addition to being honorific, listing
qualifies a property for federal grant
programs and for the Federal Historic
Preservation Tax Incentives program.
religious uses. In the spring of 2001, Partners worked
with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to give
congregations equal access to SAT. The Trust’s legal
counsel argued that as long as the funding is used for
secular purposes, it is discriminatory on the part of the
“What’s crucial to us is the planning
process we went through, the
preparation of how to work with
architects, and the background we got
from New Dollars to be able to make
a strong case. It all falls into the rubric
of Partners’ approach to fundraising
and being the stewards of historic
properties. There is no question we
picked up a lot of skills and attitudes
that prepared us to write a stronger
grant application.”
Reverend Sean Mullen,
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
federal government to exclude religious institutions.
In 2003 Partners and the National Trust prevailed.
Boston’s Old North Church became the first
congregation to receive an SAT grant, an award of
$317,000 to restore the 200-year-old windows and
to make the building more accessible to the public.
There have been many others to follow in its footsteps.
Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL, an important late work
of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and a New Dollars
graduate, received a $200,000 SAT matching grant
to restore the church’s south roof slab. Christ Church
Lutheran in Minneapolis, MN, another New Dollars
graduate, received an SAT matching grant of $160,000
to repair the aging bell tower. The church was dedicated
in 1949 and is the last building to be completed by Eliel
Saarinen before his death in 1950. Nearly 50 religious
properties have received SAT grants since Old North
Church received its groundbreaking award.
Five congregations in Philadelphia have received
awards from both SAT and Partners: St. Mark’s
Episcopal Church, Mother Bethel AME Church, Christ
Episcopal Church, Race Street Friends Meetinghouse
at Friends Center, and Church of the Advocate
(Episcopal).
Sacred Places • Fall 2011 • 8