Active religious site receives preservation grant

Washington — Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton announced May 27 the approval of the first U.S. historic preservation grant that will be used for religious purposes.

The $317,000 grant to the Old North Foundation of Boston will help restore windows in that city’s historic Old North Church and make the building more accessible to the public.

It was from the steeple of the 280-year-old church that two lanterns were displayed in 1775 to signal to Revere that British troops were advancing on nearby Lexington and Concord. The church continues to have an active Episcopal congregation.

The grant marks a change from previous policy whereby historically significant properties that continue to be used for religious purposes were ineligible for historic preservation grants.