Wright on Main Receives Grant from National Fund for Sacred Places

Wright on Main, a non-profit established to preserve the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Community Christian Church, has been awarded a grant of $160,000 from the National Fund for Sacred Places.

 

The award is one of the National Fund for Sacred Places’ matching capital grants, which means Wright on Main will match the amount awarded with privately donated funds. In total, the $320,000 project will ensure the church’s shell is weather tight so that this iconic “Church of the Future” will last for the next 300 years as Frank Lloyd Wright proclaimed.

 

Frank Lloyd Wright declared the building to be fireproof, earthquake proof and vermin-proof. Unfortunately, it is not entirely waterproof. The National Fund for Sacred Places grant will address immediate exterior water infiltration issues. This water issue was identified in a 2022 Historic Structures Report, serving as a roadmap for Wright on Main’s preservation decisions.

 

“We are excited for the support this grant gives us towards maintaining and operating this historic resource, which is unique to Kansas City and the region,” says Jan Marcason. “Without a concerted preservation strategy we would be facing the potential loss of an important piece of our American architectural heritage and this extraordinary community asset.” The project will take approximately two years to complete.

 

The church was dedicated on January 4, 1942. It has served as a focal point for the Plaza area with its Steeple of Light, its most identifiable feature. In October 2020, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its unique and outstanding architectural design. It is one of only eight Frank Lloyd Wright-designed churches built and the first to use gunnite inside and outside for its construction.

 

The National Fund for Historic Places provides technical assistance and financial support to historic houses of worship in the United States. It began in 2016 as a program within the Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The fund has awarded or pledged more than $26 million in 42 states. “Community Christian Church is grateful to Wright on Main for their ongoing partnership and commitment to the preservation of our historic building. We are excited for this opportunity to expand the fundraising capacity for this important work, “ Rev. Shanna Steitz, Senior Minister.