Grant allows First Christian Church tower work to start soon

Organizers of an effort to preserve the historic First Christian Church tower in downtown Columbus are announcing that they have cleared a fund-raising hurdle and work should begin soon.

The Friends of First Christian Church Architecture Fund at Heritage Fund are announcing that it has secured a $500,000 Challenge Grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation toward renovation of the iconic church tower. The Jeffris Family Foundation agreed in August of 2021 to provide a $1 match for every two dollars raised for the the Save Our Tower project. Friends of First Christian Church raised $1.1 million, which triggered the challenge match.

Jeff Logston, project leader of the Save Our Tower campaign, said that restoration work on the $3.2 million project should begin in March and be completed by November.

Tracy Souza, president and CEO of Heritage Fund, said about 70 donors provided funds toward the matching grant. She said the project is a special partnership between Heritage Fund, First Christian Church and Landmark Columbus Foundation.

Previous funding for the project has included a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures grant in from the National Park Service and a $250,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places.

You can get more information at saveourtower.org