[MassHistPres] CPA Funds for Historic Preservation of a Church

[Amy Ritterbusch]

We have a beautiful church in Hopkinton on the Common (2 Main Street
<https://sites.google.com/hopkintonma.gov/historical-properties/by-street-name/main-street>)
right by the Marathon start line. Its steeple is in need of an
expensive renovation and the congregation does not have the funds right now
for the renovation, although they would like to preserve it. Our town has
adopted the Community Preservation Act and I believe CPA funds can in
theory be used for private homes and buildings, but our Assistant Town
Manager told me that the use of funds for religious institutions has been
the subject of litigation in the past (separation of church and state). So
I was wondering if anyone had any experience in getting grants to assist in
the restoration of a church or other religious structure and how they went
about it. The church right now is NOT in a local Historic District, but it
may be possible to add it to the Historic District at a future town
meeting, especially if that meant grant funding would be available. We'd
hate to see the historic steeple come down and it is not fully protected
right now since it is not in a district. I think everyone involved wants to
see it preserved, but it is just the cost that is an obstacle at the moment.

Thanks!
Amy

-- 
Amy Ritterbusch
Chair, Hopkinton Center Historic District Commission
<https://www.hopkintonma.gov/hhdc/>
Facebook @HopkintonHistoricDistrict
<https://www.facebook.com/HopkintonHistoricDistrict/>

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