Historic Black Catholic parish in St. Louis gets $500k restoration grant

St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church, a storied Black Catholic parish in St. Louis, has received a $500,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to restore its stained-glass windows, which date back to 1904.

The grant, part of the Preserving Black Churches (PBC) program, is a function of the NTHP’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which regularly contributes to the restoration and protection of Black historic sites in the United States.

This 2025 cohort of Black church recipients, part of the program's third year, are receiving $8.5 million in total. The Rock Church is this year’s only Catholic grantee.

“We are honored to support the ongoing legacies of these churches, which have stood at the forefront of social progress for generations,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Fund.

“This $8.5 million investment marks a critical step in safeguarding historically Black Churches as enduring symbols of faith, strength, and community leadership. By preserving them, we ensure that their powerful presence continues to live on in their communities and inspire future generations.” 

The Rock Church, completed in the Gothic Revival style in 1872, has been served by the Redemptorists for more than 160 years, dating back to the parish’s presence as a haven for German immigrants. The parish later served Irish immigrants and became predominantly Black amid White flight in the mid-20th century.

During its early history, the church was visited by a number of important Catholic figures, including the Redemptorist missionary Francis Xavier Seelos, who was beatified in 2000, and Venerable Augustus Tolton—the nation’s first openly Black Catholic priest.

The Grand Center neighborhood congregation has long sought to restore its historic stained-glass windows, which over the years have become degraded since their installation well over a century ago. 

“Installed for the 1904 World's Fair by Mayer and Co of Munich, Germany, our iconic windows have succumbed to the environment over the past 100+ years,” the church said in an online fundraising page on their website.

“The windows now need to be resealed to prevent water from leaking into the walls of the church.” 

Volunteer grant writer and Rock Church parishioner Shannon Horstmann told reporters she has applied for a PBC grant in several previous grant cycles, though to no avail.

This year’s success came as a surprise to parish leaders, including the church’s pastor, Redemptorist Fr Rodney Olive.

“I almost had a heart attack,” he told Fox2Now following Monday’s announcement.

The church has faced various challenges in recent years, including a 2007 fire and the 2022 theft of two air conditioning units, but it remains the most active Black parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. According to information on the church’s website, the PBC grant will cover approximately 20% of the estimated costs to restore all 54 of its stained-glass windows.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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