First Presbyterian Church (Sackets Harbor, N.Y.) about 1908. From RG 428, Postcard collection.
The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) has awarded four Heritage Preservation Grants to PC(USA) congregations. The winners are Handsboro Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, Mississippi; United Presbyterian Church in Sackets Harbor, New York; Graham Presbyterian Church in North Vernon, Indiana; and Little River Presbyterian Church in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. All four churches were organized between 200 to 240 years ago.
“The Heritage Preservation Grant program was established in 2001 to help churches preserve vital records, including session minutes and church registers,” said David Staniunas, records archivist at PHS. “Sustained by donations to the PHS annual fund, each in-kind grant provides $500 toward digitizing the records.”
Since 2001, the historical society has awarded 70 grants to congregations. The records of past winners digitized in 2019 include First Presbyterian Church of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; First Presbyterian Church in Luling, Texas; Embudo Presbyterian Church in Dixon, New Mexico; and La Iglesia Presbiteriana in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
“We want to thank all of the congregations that took the time to prepare applications for this year’s awards,” said Staniunas. “We will be accepting new applications for next year’s cycle. The deadline is October 31.”
Click here to help support the Heritage Preservation Grants program or any of PHS programs. Payments can also be mailed to Development Department, Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.