11 Most Endangered Historic Places

Urban Houses of Worship

Year Listed: 2003
Location: *United States
Threat: Deterioration, Neglect

Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, DC, is one of the many examples of urban houses of worship.

Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation

Significance

Religious buildings can be sensitively adapted for other uses, whether for cultural facilities, community centers, commercial space, residential use or other. The National Trust and Partners for Sacred Places are working together to show models for reusing houses of worship after their religious use is discontinued. The National Trust conducted a national search for examples of closed religious properties that have been successfully reused. As communities take proactive steps to encourage and protect sacred places, these case studies are intended to help community leaders to advocate for alternatives to demolition and inappropriate reuses.