Two South Side churches were recently awarded grants by Landmarks Illinois to assist with repairs and preservation efforts.
The churches — one of which housed the old office of former President Barack Obama — each received a $10,000 grant from the membership-based nonprofit in late February through the Timuel D. Black Jr. Grant Fund for the South Side. The grant program supports applicants in their efforts to preserve and promote the history, culture and architecture of Chicago’s South Side, according to Landmarks Illinois.
Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Englewood was awarded $10,000 to help pay for repairs on the church’s exterior facade.
The church building, 1406 W. 64th St., is more than 100 years old. It was originally built as the West Englewood Masonic Temple, and it was used as a bank in later years. Beautiful Zion was organized in 1945 and has occupied the church for about 60 years.
Though it was constructed more than a century ago, the hallmarks of the church’s architecture have remained intact. The limestone facade displays a blend of neoclassical and art deco influences, including decorative masonry around the windows and front entrance.
“The actual structure is just breathtaking and mesmerizing,” Pastor Ricky D. Dixon said.
While working with Landmarks Illinois, Beautiful Zion received a building assessment identifying some of the “pain points” of the building — like its limestone facade, which has seen weathering overtime. There are noticeable cracks, spalling and discoloration on the limestone, according to the church.
The church was quoted about $120,000 for repairing “critical” portions of the limestone, said Chiymelle Proby Nunn, Beautiful Zion’s co-chair of Trustees Ministry.
The church is applying for more grants to help support the restoration work.
“The $10,000 is a much-needed blessing and gift that we need there to catapult and jump-start a lot of the exterior work,” Proby Nunn said.
The second grant recipient is Onyx360 NFP, an organization whose mission is to uplift Black communities by offering educational resources and health and wellness support.
The nonprofit will use its grant to stabilize and reuse the former Reformation Lutheran Church in Roseland, turning it into a health and wellness center, according to Landmarks Illinois.
Onyx360 did not respond to a request for comment.
The church, 11310 S. Forest Ave., was designed by Pullman architect Solon S. Beman in the late 1880s. Obama once had an office at the property when he worked as a community organizer.
The former Roseland church’s two structures — a brick church and a two-story former school building — will each receive repairs. The grant will help with “immediate stabilization needs,” after water damage caused structural issues and mold, according to Landmarks Illinois.
For Beautiful Zion, the grant is transformational and will help kick-start additional work.
Deacon Mitcher Tate said there’s additional exterior work the church hopes to complete, like replacing the roof and uncovering the stained glass that sits right above the limestone-embellished front entrance.
Then, the church will complete interior renovations on the 100-year-old structure. Water leaking from the limestone has resulted in some damage on the church’s third floor.
“It’s time for us to try to upgrade and bring the building up to date,” Tate said.