Historic El Paso Sacred Heart Church To Get $250,000 Restoration

Sacred Heart Church, the historic church in the heart of the Segundo Barrio in downtown El Paso, is going to get a $250,000 restoration. The Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita neighborhoods' historical significance was recognized when they were added to the the National Trust for Historic Preservation list of the "11 Most Endangered Historic Places" in the United States a few years ago.

NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR SACRED HEART
the El Paso County Historical Commission said the designation would bring national attention to the unique history and culture of Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita as well as bring attention to their plight. One of my favorite places in Segundo is Sacred Heart Church. If you've never been there, you should go see this beautiful church in person, and see why the Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita need to be saved.

MORE THAN JUST A CHURCH
Sacred Heart is not just one building but a group of buildings that are between 91 and 127 years old. They have long been in need of repair but the neighborhood around the beautiful church is not able to handle the financial reality of that kind of renovation. The National Fund for Sacred Places has teamed up with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and awarded a matching grant of $250,000 for the restoration of Sacred Heart Church. They have also awarded an additional $5,000 that will be used for ongoing grant writing efforts. The El Paso Community Foundation has pledged $60,000 over the next four years for the restoration work. It seems that the historic Sacred Heart Church is well on its way to being preserved for another century.