Historic Cleveland Church Receives $750,000 Grant for Preservation

Shiloh Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Grant Program. The funds are designated for the restoration of the nearly 200-year-old congregation's historic building, which currently faces structural challenges including buckling foundations and warping stained-glass windows. The Rev. Lisa Goods, the church's first female senior pastor, described the financial support as a "gift from God" that will assist in both sustaining the congregation and continuing its service to the local community.

Founded in 1849, the church has long served as a significant cultural and social hub. The building, originally constructed in 1906 as a Jewish temple, became a center for African American life during the Great Migration and the Civil Rights Movement. Notably, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached from its pulpit in 1967, and the church provided support during the 1966 Hough Riots. Additionally, the congregation is noted for its historical ties to the arts, having hosted early performances by actress Dorothy Dandridge.