PHS Awards Four Heritage Preservation Grants

The Presbyterian Historical Society is pleased to award four Heritage Preservation Grants to PC(USA) congregations in 2020. The winners come from four states:

Handsboro Presbyterian Church (Gulfport, Miss.) -- organized 1877
United Presbyterian Church (Sackets Harbor, N.Y.) -- organized 1816
Graham Presbyterian Church (North Vernon, Ind.) -- organized 1817
Little River Presbyterian Church (Hurdle Mills, N.C.) -- organized 1761

The Heritage Preservation Grant program was established in 2001, PHS's 150th anniversary. Sustained this year by donations to the PHS annual fund, each in-kind grant provides $500 toward digitizing a congregation's vital records, including session minutes and church registers. Churches with fewer than 200 members that are at least 50 years old may apply.

Since 2001, PHS has awarded 70 grants to congregations. The records of past winners digitized in 2019 include First Presbyterian Church (Sylvan Grove, Kan.), First Presbyterian Church (Luling, Tex.), Embudo Presbyterian Church (Dixon, N.M.), and La Iglesia Presbiteriana (Rincon, P.R.).

Watch the short video below to learn about PHS's trip to Rincon and about the records digitization process. Any PC(USA) congregation wishing to order digital copies of their records can find out more here.

PHS thanks all congregations that took the time to prepare an application for this year's awards. The deadline for next year's cycle is October 31, 2020.

You can help support the Heritage Preservation Grants program or any of PHS's other vital programs by making an online contribution here. You may also mail your payment to Development Department, Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.