First African Baptist Church receives $500,000 grant for restoration
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - First African Baptist Church announced Thursday it received a $500,000 grant from the Preserving Black Churches program to restore the building’s early 20th-century stained glass windows.
The church, recognized as the oldest black church in America, faces a $615,000 price tag for the restoration project.
“We just did not have the funds to do it,” said Reverend Thurmond N. Tillman.
The national program has about $60 million to safeguard historic black churches across the country. The maximum grant award is $500,000.
Historic building requires constant maintenance
Gatherings for the church predate America’s first birthday.
“We’re having to constantly restore different parts of this building,” Tillman said.
Tillman has served as the church’s pastor for the last 44 years. He celebrates his 50th year of preaching the gospel on June 14.
“Just the opportunity to pastor a place so historic is just astounding,” Tillman said.
The church has ties to the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights Movement.
Restoration work underway
Derek Espejo, a Scottish Stained Glass restoration specialist, said the windows needed immediate attention.
“I looked up the church, saw photos and immediately knew this was going to be a really special project,” Espejo said.
The stained glass window removal process finished one side Thursday.
“When I was looking at these windows, these windows had been worked on and worked on and worked on, and it was just time,” Espejo said.
Local representatives including Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan gathered to congratulate the church and its pastor.
“Today, we celebrate an awesome church, and the things they do that make Savannah whole,” Wilder-Bryan said.
Church seeks additional funding
The grant leaves more than $100,000 unaccounted for in the restoration budget. The pastor is asking for financial help to complete the project.
“So without this grant we quite possibly would not have been able to do this, but I know, by faith, it would’ve been done,” Tillman said.
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