LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Vital Sites and Brown Memorial CME Church have been awarded a $750,000 African American Civil Rights grant from the Historic Preservation Fund to rehabilitate the historic church building in downtown Louisville.

The church building was erected in 1863-64 and dedicated in 1865 as the Chestnut Street Methodist Church. It was designed by Kentucky architect Gideon Shyrock. It was later acquired by the historically Black congregation, Center Street Christian Episcopal Church in 1907. The church was renamed in 1954 as the Brown Memorial CME Church in honor of the Rev. L.H. Brown, who facilitated the purchase of their building in 1907. Marking its 169th anniversary this year as a congregation, the storied church was actively involved in the Civil Rights movement throughout its history.

The Brown Memorial CME Church has been actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement throughout its history. (Vital Sites)

“With so many churches in need of repairs all around Louisville, and in major cities all around the U.S., we are thrilled to see one saved, especially one with such a significant history,” said Savannah Darr, historic preservation officer with Louisville Metro government. “This is a particularly good project because the building will still function with its original use, and that is not often the case for historic buildings.”

“Our church, Brown Memorial, is worth restoring, revitalizing and celebrating. During the period of ‘urban renewal,’ which was not kind to many Black-owned businesses in the area, our church weathered the waves of demolition all around it,” the church shared in a statement.

The historic church has played a pivotal role in Louisville’s Civil Rights history. In 1870, when the city began small public elementary schools in church for African American children, Center Street CME was the second church to open, with classes taught by the pastor, Rev. William Butler.

The congregation’s first pastor, William Henry Miles, was the first African American to preach in Louisville from the pulpit of a historically white church.

More recently, Rev. Reginald Barnes, the pastor from 2014 to 2022, was the president of CLOUT, an organization whose mission is to build the power of religious organizations to solve community problems by holding systems accountable.

“The member of Brown Memorial Church are forever grateful to Savannah Darr (Historic
Preservation Officer with Louisville), Katherine Groskreutz (Historic Preservation Specialist),
Heath Seymour, Vital Sites and Carrye Jones,” the church said.

Funding for the grant comes the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

In July 1979, the Brown Memorial Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the church was built in 1873. The error has been corrected. (Aug. 29, 2023)