Charleston’s historic Black Catholic church secures $500k grant for vital renovations

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston’s first Black Catholic church was awarded thousands in a grant that will fund renovations to the building located at the corner of Radcliffe and St. Philip Streets.

St. Patrick Catholic Church received $500,000 from the National Fund for Sacred Places, a collaboration between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Partners for Sacred Places. The program aids historically significant faith communities in receiving money and hands-on technical help for preservation projects.

“In this time and age – when we seem to be going back to the ugly side of history – of hatred and discrimination, St. Patrick stands as a beacon,” said Rev. Fr. Dr. JohnBosco Ikemeh, the pastor of the church. “St. Patrick has stood the test of time. Segregation, fire, earthquake, and it has stood as a witness and a testimony of God’s love.”

St. Patrick is one of 30 churches selected nationwide from a collection of over 300 applicants. The church plans to use the money to launch the Capital Campaign, aimed at reviving the building seen as part of Charleston’s spiritual and cultural history.

“Each of the congregations welcomed into the National Fund this year represents a unique story of resilience, history, and service,” said Bob Jaeger, the president of Partners for Sacred Places. “These sacred places are not only architectural treasures – they are vital centers of congregational life and community anchors offering meals, education, cultural enrichment, and refuge. We are honored to support their preservation and their continued role in public life.”

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This year, 29 churches and one synagogue have been selected to receive capital grants of up to $500,000 along with tailored technical assistance to support historic preservation efforts, community engagement, and enhanced fundraising.

This represents both the largest cohort of grantees in a single year and the largest amount of funding awarded in the program’s history, totaling $8.73 million in grants, officials said.

St. Patrick Catholic Church has been central to the history of Charleston’s Black Catholics throughout its 186-year history. Founded in 1838 under Bishop John England, it is considered the mother church of the Diocese of Charleston.

The Diocese recently designated St. Patrick’s as the site of a new African American Heritage Center.

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The center will serve as a space for people of all ages to celebrate and learn about African American cultural heritage. It will also provide opportunities for young people to learn and perform Black spirituals, dance and arts.

St. Patrick’s current building was designed by architect Patrick Charles Keely, a leading figure in Catholic church architecture in the 1800s, and built by Henry L. Cade.

The Gothic Revival-style church features intricate stonework, pointed arches, a steeply pitched roof and a bell tower that rises 120 feet above Charleston’s Old City Historic District.

Today, it remains the only Black Catholic parish in the city, having absorbed congregants from several closed Black parishes over the years. Rev. Ikemeh explained that the initial $500,000 will go toward repairs. However, the church will need another estimated $500,000 to fully repair its steeple.