| WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representative Marion Berry announced today that the Centennial Baptist Church in Helena-West Helena has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Park Service through the Save America’s Treasures program.
The Centennial Baptist Church was organized on July 4, 1876, in Helena and is the oldest African-American Church west of the Mississippi River. Today, the building is owned by the E.C. Morris Foundation which is named in honor of Dr. Elias Camp Morris. Dr. Morris served as Centennial’s pastor from 1879 to 1922 and established the National Baptist Publishing Board which produced religious materials for African-American congregations. He also served as leader of the National Baptist Convention, the largest African-American organization in the United States at the end of the 19th century.
Under Dr. Morris’ leadership, the current Centennial Baptist Church was built in 1905. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. The site has also been designated as an "American Treasure" by the National Park Service.
Restoration of the building began in the early 1990s and continues today. The $300,000 Save America’s Treasures grant will fund roof and structural repairs.
"Members of the Centennial Baptist Church and the surrounding community have worked for over a decade to restore this unique landmark," said Senator Lincoln. "These funds are critical to saving this important structure that has architectural, cultural, and historical significance to the Delta region."
"The Centennial Baptist Church provides a unique glimpse into Arkansas' social and historic past," Pryor said. "The announcement of this grant is an important step forward in the restoration project, and I'm pleased to see these important funds are being allocated to preserve this valuable historic site."
"This award is a perfect example of how the federal government can partner with local communities to preserve historic landmarks," said Congressman Berry. "I commend the congregation of Centennial Baptist Church and all the members of the community who worked hard to secure these funds. This restoration will not only enhance a historic place of worship, but preserve a facility with generations of stories about the growth of Arkansas’ Delta." |
